ENGLISH
REFERENCE

broaden

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbɹɔdən// UK //bɹˈɔːdən// broad·en

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.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From broad + -en (verbal suffix).

Usage

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

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference