Word
Definition
v. to make something broader or more open. You can use it for physical things like roads or for abstract things like your knowledge.
v. to increase the width or extent of something; to broaden. Transitive when acting on an object, or intransitive when describing something becoming broader.
Examples
“The workers plan to widen the road next month.”
“The university hopes to widen access to its courses by offering more scholarships to students from low-income families.”
“As the river approaches the sea, the banks begin to widen significantly, slowing the current and allowing sediment to settle into a rich delta.”
Examples
simple
“The workers plan to widen the road next month.”
contextual
“The university hopes to widen access to its courses by offering more scholarships to students from low-income families.”
complex
“As the river approaches the sea, the banks begin to widen significantly, slowing the current and allowing sediment to settle into a rich delta.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “widen” in context.
Verb
01. widen scope
“The committee decided to widen the scope of the investigation to include financial records.”
verb + noun
Usage
The verb is both transitive ('widen the gap') and intransitive ('the gap widened').
Pitfall
to wide the road
to widen the road
Learners often use the adjective 'wide' as a verb instead of the correct verbal form ending in '-en'.
Real-World Examples
“During the 20th century, the gap widened further, particularly from 1950 to 1991.” “Some experts warn that the gap between rich and poor in retirement could widen significantly for this generation.” Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ From wide + -en (verbal suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/widen
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0