widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
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 incomesCurrent 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.
There’s an opportunity for business owners to integrate zero-click content more widely in their social media strategy. Chelsea Tobin, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 Wooldridge is the son of former state Sen. Tim Wooldridge, D-Paragould, and had been widely expected in legislative circles to announce his attempt to oust Johnson. Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2025 Cuomo was widely considered the front-runner before Mamdani declared victory following the first-round results last week. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025 So many more people saw Pine’s pro-American paintings, which were turned into prints that circulated widely in London, than chatted with John Hancock, for example. Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025 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 8 Jul. 2025.

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