widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred 
1
: widely diffused or prevalent
widespread public interest
2
: widely extended or spread out
low, widespread hood and fenders—
Time
Timea widespread erosion surface—C. B. Hitchcock
C. B. HitchcockExamples of widespread in a Sentence
There is widespread public interest in the election.
Trade partners had become more widespread.
There was widespread opposition to the plan.
Recent Examples on the Web
The trade war fears, particularly in light of the ongoing tariff threats from the U.S., have triggered widespread panic, leading to a flight to safety.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Beijing is unlikely to significantly boost stimulus until the second half of the year, when societal unhappiness with the economic slowdown likely becomes more widespread, Xing said.
—Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
Now, the website explains that widespread access will end in March.
—Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Early in the pandemic, Janet Woodcock, then the head of the FDA’s drug center, reportedly sprang into action to prevent widespread distribution of the unproven COVID treatment hydroxychloroquine over the orders of top Trump officials.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
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Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Beijing is unlikely to significantly boost stimulus until the second half of the year, when societal unhappiness with the economic slowdown likely becomes more widespread, Xing said.
—Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
Now, the website explains that widespread access will end in March.
—Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Early in the pandemic, Janet Woodcock, then the head of the FDA’s drug center, reportedly sprang into action to prevent widespread distribution of the unproven COVID treatment hydroxychloroquine over the orders of top Trump officials.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred
1
: scattered or found over a wide area
widespread interest in the election
2
: spread out over a wide area
widespread wings
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