English Reference
Verb

broaden

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈbɹɔdən/ UK /bɹˈɔːdən/ broad·en UK spelling broadened, broadens

v.to make something wider or to increase the range of things you know or experience. You use this when you want to grow your mind or make a physical space larger.

v.to increase the width, range, or scope of something. Often used figuratively to describe the expansion of knowledge, perspectives, or experiences.


SIMPLE

Traveling helps to broaden your mind.

CONTEXTUAL

The university aims to broaden the curriculum to include more diverse perspectives from around the world.

COMPLEX

The government decided to broaden the scope of the investigation after new evidence suggested that the initial findings were only the tip of the iceberg.

Usage

The verb is both transitive (taking a direct object) and intransitive (describing something that becomes wider).

Over the past three decades, as the study of intelligence has broadened beyond humans, slime-mould research has gathered speed.

The Guardian· 8 Sept 2026

From broad + -en (verbal suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated