widen

/'waidn/

Thân thiện

The city plans to widen the main road next year.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To make something wider or broader: To increase the physical width, scope, or range of something.
   • To cause to be more extensive or inclusive: To expand the limits, area, or influence of something.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become wider or broader: To increase in width or extent.
   • To become more extensive or inclusive: To grow in scope or range.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • The city plans to widen the main road to reduce traffic congestion.
  • Reading books can widen your knowledge and perspective.
  • She had to widen the dress at the seams.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The river widens as it flows toward the sea.
  • The gap between their opinions widened over time.

Advanced Usage

• "to widen one's horizons": To expand one's experiences, knowledge, or understanding.

  • Traveling is a great way to widen your horizons.

• "to widen the gap/divide": To increase a difference or disparity between two things.

  • The new policy could widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

Variants and Related Words

• Wide (adj): Having a great extent from side to side; broad.

  • The road is very wide.

• Widely (adv): To a great degree; extensively.

  • The theory is widely accepted.

• Widening (n/gerund): The process or result of becoming wider.

  • The widening of the highway will take two years.

Synonyms

• Broaden: To become or make broader.
• Expand: To increase in size, volume, or scope.
• Enlarge: To make or become bigger.

Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form distinct phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "Widen the net": To include more people or things in a search, investigation, or selection process.
  • The police widened their net to find more suspects.

Học thuật

Verb

1. 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
2. make wider
   • widen the road
3. make (clothes) larger
   • Let out that dress--I gained a lot of weight
4. become broader or wider or more extensive
   • The road widened

Từ đồng nghĩa

• broaden
• extend
• let out