Abstract: Example embodiments relate to expanding textual content using transfer learning and iterative inference. An example method includes receiving, by a computing device, a snippet of text that contains one or more terms expressed using succinct representations. The method also includes performing an iterative expansion, by the computing device, using the snippet of text as an input snippet of text. The iterative expansion includes receiving, by the computing device, the input snippet of text. The iterative expansion also includes determining, by the computing device using a machine-learned model, a set of intermediate expanded snippets. Each of the intermediate expanded snippets has an associated score based on the machine-learned model.