Dilating is a term used to refer to the expansion or enlargement of something, usually an opening such as a blood vessel or the pupil of an eye. However, there are several synonyms that can be used in its place, depending on the context. Such synonyms include widening, expanding, stretching, enlarging, opening up, and swelling. Each of these words carries a slightly different connotation, with widening and enlarging emphasizing the increase in size, while stretching and expanding usually implying the process of reaching beyond previous limits. Opening up can suggest creating a space that was previously blocked, while swelling points to a more sudden increase in size due to fluid buildup.