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Definition of widen

widen

/ˈwaɪ.dən/
wi · den
Adverb:widely
•
Adjective:wide
•
Past Simple:widened
•
Past Participle:widened
•
Present Participle:widening
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widen Lexical Profile

widen Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make or become wider or broader in physical dimension or distance.

Example

"The city council approved a plan to widen the main highway by adding two extra lanes."

2

To extend or increase in scope, range, degree, or difference.

Example

"The research team decided to widen the scope of their investigation to include rural communities."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for widen
Antonyms
View all antonyms for widen

• Rhymes for widen

• Nearby Words

widebody
widely
widemouthed
widen
wideness
wideout
widescreen

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in late Middle English from the Old English adjective wid ('wide, broad') combined with the verb-forming suffix -en ('to make or become').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Widen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/widen
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