widen

verb

wid·​en ˈwī-dᵊn How to pronounce widen (audio)
widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ How to pronounce widen (audio)
ˈwī-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to increase the width, scope, or extent of
widen a road
widen an investigation

intransitive verb

: to become wide or wider
a widening gap
widener
ˈwīd-nər How to pronounce widen (audio)
ˈwī-dᵊn-ər
noun

Examples of widen in a Sentence

The city is going to widen the road. They plan to widen the investigation. Her eyes widened in surprise. They went swimming at a spot where the river widens. The scope of the investigation has widened.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Literacy Gap That Could Break The Chain While AI continues to advance at breakneck speed, the AI talent gap is widening even further. Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 But deep inequality is widening, including in Silicon Valley, where inequality has grown at twice the clip of the rest of the U.S. Plus, President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs are expected to hammer local businesses small and large alike, should the president keep them in place. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025 In 2024, Paramount shares fell 27 percent, while the entertainment conglomerate’s annual revenue was nearly unchanged, its loss per share widened, but its adjusted earnings rose. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025 In turn, personnel shortages only widen the gap between the demand for child care and the supply. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for widen

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of widen was in 1566

Cite this Entry

“Widen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widen. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

widen

verb
wid·​en ˈwīd-ᵊn How to pronounce widen (audio)
widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ How to pronounce widen (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become wide or wider : broaden

More from Merriam-Webster on widen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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