broaden
/ˈbrɔːd(ə)n
/verb [no object]
1Become larger in distance from side to side; widen: her smile broadened the river slowed and broadened out slightly...
- Lynn winks naughtily at him, and Clark's smile broadens.
- At the thought of his son, he quickly remembered the little girl who had come with him, and the smile on his face broadened.
- His eyes flipped around towards where I was hiding, and his pleasant smile broadened.
Synonyms
widen, become/make broader, become/make wider, expand, fill out, stretch (out), draw out, spread out, deepen, thicken
1.1Expand to encompass more people or things: her interests broadened as she grew up [with object]: he has to broaden Labour’s appeal to the whole community...
- Mr Walsh praised the industry's efforts in broadening and expanding its market reach at EU retail level.
- This volume sets out to correct the imbalance, though, inevitably, the theme broadens out to a variety of aspects of motherhood.
- This discussion of technical aspects of narrative broadens out in this essay into a criticism of the capitalist system and its effects.
Synonyms
expand, enlarge, extend, widen, swell;
increase, augment, supplement, add to, amplify, fill out;
develop, enrich, enhance, intensify, improve, build on, open up
Phrases
broaden one's horizons