Word
widely
Phoneticswide·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwaɪdɫi/
UK/wˈaɪdli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01by many people or in many places
B1 · Intermediate
adv. used to say that something is common or accepted by a large number of people.
adv. indicating that something is generally accepted, known, or practiced by a vast majority or across a broad demographic.
日本語:一般に※
“It is widely believed that eating vegetables is good for your health.”
“The theory was widely criticized by the scientific community until new evidence emerged to support the original findings.”
Usage
often used before a past participle like 'known', 'accepted', or 'used'.
Synonyms
02over a large area or distance
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. across a large space or with a big gap between things.
adv. over a large spatial extent or with a significant interval between points.
“The explorers traveled widely across the desert to find the ancient city.”
“The seeds are widely scattered by the wind, ensuring the plant can colonize distant areas of the valley.”
Synonyms
03to a large degree
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. by a large amount, especially when comparing two things.
adv. to a great degree or extent; frequently used to intensify differences in comparative contexts.
“The two brothers have widely different personalities despite being twins.”
“Opinions on the new policy vary widely among the staff, ranging from total support to outright rejection.”
Usage
frequently modifies comparative adjectives or verbs of variation.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “widely” in context.
Verb
01. widely accept
“It is widely accepted that regular exercise improves mental health.”
adv + verb
02. widely acknowledge
“The need for urgent reform is now widely acknowledged by the government.”
adv + verb
03. widely adopt
“Renewable energy technologies are being widely adopted across the globe.”
adv + verb
04. widely apply
“These safety regulations are widely applied in all chemical laboratories.”
adv + verb
05. widely differ
“Opinions on the new policy widely differ among the staff members.”
adv + verb
06. widely used
07. widely available
08. widely known
09. widely cited
10. widely expected
11. widely seen
12. widely distributed
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to wide + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/widely
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0