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 widening gap followed a private equity spending spree in 2021, as firms rushed to deploy unspent funds, with activity also boosted by ultra-low interest rates. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025 The construction zone is in place for the ongoing work to widen I-264 and reconstruct the interchange with I-71, The Courier Journal previously reported. Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025 Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke Decreases Foods rich in dietary nitrates, like beets, help increase blood flow by widening and relaxing blood vessels. Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2025 The quartet of projects represents a widening scope for the Taipei company, which has steadily built credentials through festival selections, streaming deals and local box office success since 2017. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 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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