Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense widens, present participle widening, past tense, past participle widened
1. verb
If you widen something or if it widens, it becomes greater in measurement from one side or edge to the other.
He had an operation last year to widen a heart artery. [VERB noun]
The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east. [VERB]
Synonyms: get wider, spread, extend, expand More Synonyms of widen
wideninguncountable noun [oft NOUNof noun]
They have ordered the widening of the road where the incident took place.
2. verb
If you widen something or if it widens, it becomes greater in range or it affects a larger number of people or things.
U.S. prosecutors have widened a securities-fraud investigation. [VERB noun]
The search for my brother widened. [VERB]
Newspapers enjoyed a widening circle of readers. [VERB-ing]
3. verb
If your eyes widen, they open more.
His eyes widened as he spoke the words. [VERB]
4. verb
If a difference or gap widens or if something widens it, it becomes greater.
Wage differences in the two areas are widening. [VERB]
The U.S. trade deficit widened to $7.59 billion in November. [Vto/from/by amount]
...policies that widen the gap between the rich and the poor. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of widen
widen in British English
(ˈwaɪdən)
verb
to make or become wide or wider
Derived forms
widener (ˈwidener)
noun
widen in American English
(ˈwaɪdən)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
to make or become wide or wider
Examples of 'widen' in a sentence
widen
For those who were still in the womb when their fathers died the gap widened to two years and ten weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The cross-party group also wants league tables showing how universities and employers are widening access to those from all backgrounds.
The Sun (2017)
The worrying thing is that the gap is widening between what is advertised and what people get in reality," he said.
Computing (2010)
Despite dedication to widening access and recruitment, the civil service is largely staffed by the stereotypical CVs in its upper echelons.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The widening valuation gap makes it tough to resurrect the nuptials.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As a result there is a widening gap between supply and demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Top universities have tried extremely hard in recent years to widen access.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The range of fraud victims eligible for criminal compensation will also be widened.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Love that casts a widening pool of light.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet opposition to the established position was beginning to be voiced in widening circles.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
So my aim widens to include some understanding of my fellows.
Page, Russell The Education of a Gardener (1994)
This is despite a range of widening participation initiatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Why has the current account deficit widened so dramatically?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And this gap continues to widen over the course of regular schooling.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They say their planned tax on phone landlines is to widen access to the internet.
The Sun (2009)
The margin where they have crossed has also widened recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But such a measure would have a profound effect in widening the investor pool.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are bound to be clubs and other ways of widening your social circle.
The Sun (2009)
It is possible that another battle could be widened to include other sportsmen and women.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are also keen on widening participation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The other side of this influx of capital was a widening trade deficit and loss of competitiveness.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Staffordshire has a strong reputation for widening access to higher education.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The circles widened to make space for him.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So what explains the widening gap?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We need to widen the pool.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Booze also makes the tiny blood vessels in the skin widen, making the skin look flushed.
The Sun (2006)
But (as with houses) differences were widening.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
There is something spine-tingling and enthralling about the best public art, the kind that touches the emotions and makes the eyes widen involuntarily.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
widen
British English: widen VERB
If you widen something or if it widens, it becomes greater in measurement from one side or edge to the other.
He had an operation last year to widen a heart artery.
American English: widen
Brazilian Portuguese: alargar
Chinese: 使变宽
European Spanish: ensanchar
French: élargir
German: erweitern
Italian: allargare
Japanese: 広げる/広くなる
Korean: 넓히다
European Portuguese: alargar
Latin American Spanish: ensanchar
Chinese translation of 'widen'
widen
(ˈwaɪdn)
vt
[road, river etc]拓宽(寬) (tuòkuān)
[experience, horizons etc]扩(擴)展 (kuòzhǎn)
[gap, difference etc]扩(擴)大 (kuòdà)
vi
[road, river etc]变(變)宽(寬) (biànkuān)
[gap, difference etc]扩(擴)大 (kuòdà)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become wide or wider
He had an operation to widen an artery in his heart.
Synonyms
broaden
The smile broadened to a grin.
expand
We can expand the size of the image.
enlarge
plans to enlarge the park into a 30,000 all-seater stadium
dilate
The pupils dilate to let in more light.
spread
He stepped back and spread his hands wide.
extend
stretch
an artificial reef stretching the length of the coast
open wide
open out or up
Opposites
reduce
,
narrow
,
shrink
,
diminish
,
tighten
, compress,
constrict
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become wide or wider
The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.
Synonyms
get wider
spread
The sense of fear is spreading in residential neighbourhoods.
extend
They have added three new products to extend their range.
expand
Water expands as it freezes.
broaden
We must broaden our appeal.
open wide
open out or up
Opposites
contract,
narrow
,
shrink
,
diminish
,
tighten
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dilate
Definition
to make or become wider or larger
The pupils dilate to let in more light.
Synonyms
enlarge,
extend,
stretch,
expand,
swell,
widen,
broaden,
puff out,
distend
in the sense of enlarge
Definition
to make or grow larger
plans to enlarge the park into a 30,000 all-seater stadium
Synonyms
expand,
increase,
extend,
add to,
build up,
widen,
intensify,
blow up (informal),
heighten,
broaden,
inflate,
lengthen,
magnify,
amplify,
augment,
make bigger,
elongate,
make larger
in the sense of expand
Definition
to make or become greater in extent, size, or scope
We can expand the size of the image.
Synonyms
make bigger,
increase,
develop,
extend,
widen,
blow up,
heighten,
enlarge,
multiply,
broaden,
inflate,
thicken,
fill out,
lengthen,
magnify,
amplify,
augment,
dilate,
make larger,
distend,
bloat,
protract
Synonyms of 'widen'
widen
Explore 'widen' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of expand
Definition
to make or become greater in extent, size, or scope
Water expands as it freezes.
Synonyms
get bigger,
increase,
grow,
extend,
swell,
widen,
blow up,
wax,
heighten,
enlarge,
multiply,
inflate,
thicken,
fill out,
lengthen,
fatten,
dilate,
become bigger,
puff up,
become larger,
distend
in the sense of extend
Definition
to broaden the meaning or scope of
They have added three new products to extend their range.
Synonyms
widen,
increase,
develop,
expand,
spread,
add to,
enhance,
supplement,
enlarge,
broaden,
diversify,
amplify,
augment
in the sense of spread
Definition
to be displayed to its fullest extent
He stepped back and spread his hands wide.
Synonyms
extend,
open,
stretch
in the sense of spread
Definition
to extend over a larger expanse
The sense of fear is spreading in residential neighbourhoods.
Synonyms
grow,
increase,
develop,
expand,
widen,
mushroom,
escalate,
proliferate,
multiply,
broaden
in the sense of stretch
Definition
to extend or spread over (a specified distance)
an artificial reef stretching the length of the coast