broaden

/'brɔ:dn/

Thân thiện

The road broadened as it approached the bridge.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To make something wider or more extensive in physical dimension, scope, or range.
   • To increase the variety, knowledge, or experience of something or someone.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become wider or more extensive.

Usage

The verb "broaden" is used to describe the action of expanding something, either literally (like a road) or figuratively (like knowledge or experience). It often implies a positive development towards greater inclusivity, understanding, or capacity.

Examples

• Transitive use (making something broader):

  • The city plans to broaden the main avenue to reduce traffic congestion.
  • Traveling is an excellent way to broaden your horizons and understand different cultures.
  • The university aims to broaden its curriculum to include more interdisciplinary courses.

• Intransitive use (becoming broader):

  • The river broadens significantly as it approaches the sea.
  • Her smile broadened when she saw the surprise.
  • The discussion broadened to include topics of sustainability and ethics.

Advanced Usage

• "Broaden one's horizons/mind": A common idiom meaning to increase one's range of knowledge, experience, or understanding.

  • Reading philosophy can really help to broaden your mind.

• "Broaden the appeal/scope": To make something attractive or applicable to a wider group or range of situations.

  • The marketing team worked to broaden the appeal of the product to younger consumers.

Variants and Related Words

• Broad (adjective): Having great width; extensive.
• Broadly (adverb): In a wide manner; generally.
• Broadening (noun/gerund): The process of becoming or making broader.
  • The broadening of the tax base was a key policy goal.

Synonyms

• Widen: To make or become wider (often more literal).
• Expand: To increase in size, volume, or scope.
• Extend: To lengthen in space or time; to enlarge the scope of.
• Diversify: To make or become more varied (often used in business or investment contexts).

Antonyms

• Narrow: To make or become less wide.
• Restrict: To limit or confine.
• Constrict: To make narrower or tighter.

Related Phrases

• Broaden out: Similar to "broaden," sometimes used for emphasis.
  • The path broadened out into a clearing.
• Broaden the debate/discussion: To include more topics or perspectives in a conversation.
  • We need to broaden the debate to consider the long-term environmental impacts.

Học thuật

Verb

1. become broader
   • The road broadened
2. vary in order to spread risk or to expand
   • The company diversified
3. extend in scope or range or area
   • The law was extended to all citizens
   • widen the range of applications
   • broaden your horizon
   • Extend your backyard
4. make broader
   • broaden the road

Từ đồng nghĩa

• diversify
• branch out
• widen
• extend