widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
Synonyms of widelynext
1
: over or through a wide area
has traveled widely
2
: to a great extent
departed widely from the previous edition
3
: by or among a large well-dispersed group of people
a widely known political figure
4
: over a broad range
… persons with widely fluctuating incomes.Current Biography

Examples of widely in a Sentence

Their products are widely available. a widely known political figure The books are widely read by adults as well as children.
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.
Last February, the Mexican super middleweight signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season that was widely reported to be worth $400 million. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026 Before long, the notion that Israel had ordered Kirk’s assassination was so widely discussed that Netanyahu publicly denied involvement. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 In the Texas courtroom, Setrakian acknowledged that Bonta had made the critical statements in a fundraising appeal that circulated widely and into Texas. Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026 Trauma Bonding has been widely documented as a naturally occurring result of people who work in professions where they are subjected to multiple traumatic events on a regular basis. Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for widely

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widely was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

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