# wider

/ˈwaɪdɝ/ (US) · /wˈaɪdɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. greater distance across

adjective · CEFR A2

having a larger distance from one side to the other than something else.

For teachers: denoting a greater horizontal measurement or physical breadth relative to another object.

- The new sofa is wider than the old one, so it might not fit through the door.
- The city council decided to build a wider bridge to accommodate the increasing volume of commuter traffic from the suburbs.

Usage: Followed by 'than' when making a direct comparison between two nouns.

### 2. more general or inclusive

adjective · CEFR B1

including more people, things, or ideas; more general.

For teachers: referring to a more extensive range, scope, or variety within a social or conceptual context.

- We need to consider the wider community when we make these changes.
- The research aims to place these specific findings within the wider context of global climate patterns.

Usage: Often used with nouns like 'context', 'community', 'implications', or 'audience'.

## Examples

- The new road is much wider than the old one.
- The government needs to consider the wider implications of this policy for the whole country.
- While the initial study focused on local schools, the wider research project aims to evaluate educational outcomes across the entire continent.

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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.