adj

distended

dih-STEHN-dihd

adj

Swollen or stretched out, especially from internal pressure.

"The patient's abdomen was visibly distended."

How to Use Distended

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSwollen or bulging outward, usually because something inside is pushing on it.

Common pairings

distended abdomen distended belly

more distended comparative, most distended superlative

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The patient's abdomen was visibly _____.

Past participle of "distend," from Latin distendere, "to stretch out."

ended bended blended amended defended extended intended attended expended pretended suspended unattended