# widely

/ˈwaɪdɫi/ (US) · /wˈaɪdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/widely
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. by many people or in many places

adverb · CEFR B1

used to say that something is common or accepted by a large number of people.

For teachers: indicating that something is generally accepted, known, or practiced by a vast majority or across a broad demographic.

- 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'.

### 2. over a large area or distance

adverb · CEFR B2

across a large space or with a big gap between things.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to a large degree

adverb · CEFR B2

by a large amount, especially when comparing two things.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The new phone is widely available in stores.
- The scientist's theories are widely accepted by the international research community.
- Although the species was once widely distributed across the continent, habitat loss has restricted its current population to a few isolated mountain ranges.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.