Synonyms

widen

American

[wahyd-n] / ˈwaɪd n /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become wide or wider; broaden; expand.

widen British

/ ˈwaɪdən /

verb

to make or become wide or wider

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of widen

First recorded in 1600–10; wide + -en ¹

Explanation

When you made something broader or more open, you widen it. In order to add bike lanes on your street, the city may need to widen it. Your friend's smile will undoubtedly widen when you hand him a chocolate cupcake — in other words, what starts as a grin gets bigger and wider. A scholar who widens her area of expertise adds subjects to her research, and your dinner options widen when two great new restaurants open in your town.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The latest data drop from the weight-loss rivals looks set to widen that gap.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

“The temptation is always to say, ‘Well, let’s just widen it out at the edges, just be a bit more generic and then we can almost appeal to anyone,’” Saunders said.

From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026

While teams of officers scour the park, Karen discovers her daughter has taken over £200 in cash from home, prompting Sgt Kelly to widen the search.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

This could lead spreads to widen at a faster pace if consumer prices keep rising, as they have done lately owing to the jump in oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

My face upside down above Caesar’s, I see his jaw clench, his teeth bear down, and his eyes widen with shock.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023