widen

verb

wid·​en ˈwī-dᵊn How to pronounce widen (audio)
widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ How to pronounce widen (audio)
ˈwī-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to increase the width, scope, or extent of
widen a road
widen an investigation

intransitive verb

: to become wide or wider
a widening gap
widener
ˈwīd-nər How to pronounce widen (audio)
ˈwī-dᵊn-ər
noun

Examples of widen in a Sentence

The city is going to widen the road. They plan to widen the investigation. Her eyes widened in surprise. They went swimming at a spot where the river widens. The scope of the investigation has widened.
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.
As real estate remains increasingly out of reach for younger buyers, the wealth divide between Boomers and subsequent generations may widen, with homeownership becoming an even more significant driver of financial inequality. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024 Beijing is also expected to widen its fiscal deficit by 1.4 percentage point, which would allow more central government borrowing to shore up the economy, according to Morgan Stanley. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024 The next logical move for the 90th Guards Tank Division and adjacent units would be to widen the salient by capturing Novotroitske and, farther south, Ukrainka. David Axe, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 At times, the conversation might widen even further to one nosy tía’s opinions about the bodies of celebrities she’s never met. Ella Cerón, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for widen 

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of widen was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near widen

Cite this Entry

“Widen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widen. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

widen

verb
wid·​en ˈwīd-ᵊn How to pronounce widen (audio)
widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ How to pronounce widen (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become wide or wider : broaden

More from Merriam-Webster on widen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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