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
Current BiographyExamples 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
This culminated with the 1966 release of Pet Sounds, which is widely considered one of the best albums of all time but was not initially well-received.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
It's been widely reported that many are still struggling.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for widely 
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
It's been widely reported that many are still struggling.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for widely
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'widely.' 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 widely
Cite this Entry
“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
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