1
: over or through a wide area
has traveled widely
2
: to a great extent
departed widely from the previous edition
3
: by or among a large well-dispersed group of people
a widely known political figure
4
: over a broad range
persons with widely fluctuating incomes Current Biography

Examples of widely in a Sentence

Their products are widely available. a widely known political figure The books are widely read by adults as well as children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prices will vary widely by destination, trip duration, choice of accommodation, and time of year. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 His Blue Period paintings have become widely popular and are now the subject of a wealth of scholarship. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025 While a single autonomous trading algorithm malfunction in 2012 caused Knight Capital to lose $440 million in just 45 minutes, general purpose AI systems are likely to be deployed far more widely across sectors, multiplying the potential for costly accidents. Henry Papadatos, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025 His sibling is widely recognized as the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and has captivated the hearts of fans around the country, but Patrick Mahomes’ brother Jackson has millions of fans in his own right. Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for widely 

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widely was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near widely

Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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