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

a widespread erosion surface

—C. B. Hitchcock

Synonyms

• extensive
• broad
• wide
• sweeping
• deep

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

While the possibilities are vast, some applications are better positioned than others for early, widespread adoption—thanks to existing demand, supporting infrastructure and familiar user behaviors. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The livelihoods of creatives are under pressure from the rapid advance of AI technology and its widespread adoption, with users of tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and many others able to generate images, videos and artwork using simple prompts at low cost. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

The brief moment provides an instant answer to the widespread industry speculation about how Netflix will continue or create a spinoff for its most globally popular show of all time. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025

The data suggests that the decline is widespread, even global. —Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for widespread

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead

Kids 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