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. HitchcockSynonyms
Examples 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
Perhaps most notably in 2022: the president announced widespread relief of up to $20,000 for qualifying borrowers.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
The widespread contamination over decades led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 to declare the first-ever public health emergency during a Superfund cleanup.
—Amy Beth Hanson and Matthew Brown, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
It’s become widespread, affecting teens and college students across the country.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The drawdown from Khan Younis, about four months after Israeli forces invaded southern Gaza, raised questions about Israel’s plans in the face of widespread calls for it to de-escalate the conflict.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Temperatures fell 11 degrees over just one hour in Douglas, Wyoming, and widespread temperature drops of 4 to 8 degrees happened across the South.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
However, everyone has been exposed to relatively low levels of asbestos due to widespread human use and most people do not develop health problems as a result, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Usually taking off near sunset, the rockets leave a long, undulating trail in the sky that draws widespread attention.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
The changes come as Biden faces widespread criticism from Arab Americans and others over his handling of the war in Gaza.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
The widespread contamination over decades led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 to declare the first-ever public health emergency during a Superfund cleanup.
—Amy Beth Hanson and Matthew Brown, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
It’s become widespread, affecting teens and college students across the country.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The drawdown from Khan Younis, about four months after Israeli forces invaded southern Gaza, raised questions about Israel’s plans in the face of widespread calls for it to de-escalate the conflict.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Temperatures fell 11 degrees over just one hour in Douglas, Wyoming, and widespread temperature drops of 4 to 8 degrees happened across the South.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
However, everyone has been exposed to relatively low levels of asbestos due to widespread human use and most people do not develop health problems as a result, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Usually taking off near sunset, the rockets leave a long, undulating trail in the sky that draws widespread attention.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
The changes come as Biden faces widespread criticism from Arab Americans and others over his handling of the war in Gaza.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'widespread.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share