widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
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 incomesCurrent 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.
In the snapshot, the couple can be seen in the backseat of a car, smiling widely. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025 The concept of secure messaging is widely misunderstood. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 Da Wait, it was released on Tuesday (March 25) on Playboi Carti’s official webstore and widely via streamers and digital retail. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2025 The Palestinians want all three for their future state, and a two-state solution is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict. Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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