widely
- 01 B1 Intermediate
used to say that something is common or accepted by a large number of people.
indicating that something is generally accepted, known, or practiced by a vast majority or across a broad demographic.
Simple“It is widely believed that eating vegetables is good for your health.”
In context“The theory was widely criticized by the scientific community until new evidence emerged to support the original findings.”
Usageoften used before a past participle like 'known', 'accepted', or 'used'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
across a large space or with a big gap between things.
over a large spatial extent or with a significant interval between points.
Simple“The explorers traveled widely across the desert to find the ancient city.”
In context“The seeds are widely scattered by the wind, ensuring the plant can colonize distant areas of the valley.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
by a large amount, especially when comparing two things.
to a great degree or extent; frequently used to intensify differences in comparative contexts.
Simple“The two brothers have widely different personalities despite being twins.”
In context“Opinions on the new policy vary widely among the staff, ranging from total support to outright rejection.”
Usagefrequently modifies comparative adjectives or verbs of variation.
Synonyms
Usage widely used · widely accept · widely available
“The report argues that China's large-scale support for green industries has helped make technologies like batteries, electric vehicles and solar power cheaper and more widely available.”
“The impact of Phytophthora dieback on native plant communities has been widely studied across Australia.”
From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to wide + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.