ampliar
verbCEFR B2
What does “ampliar” mean in English?
to expand, to broaden
to expand, to broaden (to make larger in scope or extent; ampliar el programa, el plazo, la perspectiva)
Example sentences
El Gobierno planea ampliar las becas universitarias para incluir a estudiantes de familias con rentas medias.
The Government plans to expand university grants to include students from middle-income families.
El plazo de presentación se ha ampliado hasta el 15 de enero para dar más tiempo a los solicitantes.
The submission deadline has been extended to 15 January to give applicants more time.
Estudiar en el extranjero es una oportunidad inigualable para ampliar la perspectiva y la comprensión intercultural.
Studying abroad is an unparalleled opportunity to broaden one's perspective and intercultural understanding.
How to use it
Ampliar means 'to expand', 'to broaden', or 'to extend'. It is transitive and takes abstract or institutional direct objects: ampliar el programa, ampliar los horizontes, ampliar el plazo. At B2 it is common in policy, academic, and professional registers. The noun is la ampliación. Don't confuse with extender (which emphasises spreading over a space or area — extending reach/duration) or escalar (to scale up — more specific to technology and growth models). Ampliar focuses on making something bigger or broader.
Common mistake
Ampliar focuses on increasing size or scope (ampliar el programa, ampliar el plazo). Extender focuses more on spatial or temporal spread (extenderse por todo el país). Expandir is closer to 'expand' in English and is common in business/geography. The noun ampliación (expansion, extension) is common in planning and legal documents.