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Definition of distend

distend

/dɪˈstɛnd/
dis · tend
Adjective:distended
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Past Simple:distended
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Past Participle:distended
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Present Participle:distending
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distend Lexical Profile

distend Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside (especially of a bodily organ, vessel, or cavity).

Example

"Excessive fluid intake can cause the stomach to distend uncomfortably."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for distend

• Nearby Words

distastefully
distastefulness
distemper
distend
distended
distill
distillable

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin distendere ('to stretch apart, swell out'), formed from dis- ('apart') and tendere ('to stretch').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Distend. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/distend
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