broaden

verb

broad·​en ˈbrȯ-dᵊn 

broadened; broadening ˈbrȯd-niŋ 

ˈbrȯ-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make broader

intransitive verb

: to become broad

Examples of broaden in a Sentence

They need to broaden their understanding of other cultures.

The police have broadened the scope of the investigation.

Her smile broadened when I told her the good news.

The investigation has broadened to include the mayor's staff.

His interests broadened to include art and music, not just sports.

Recent Examples on the Web

The campaign has taken the protests demanding accountability and education reforms beyond the streets, broadening its reach and intensifying pressure on a government wary of appearing to yield to a rapidly growing youth movement. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

The school’s view of its mission has broadened to recognize that careers are fluid — that graduates may move among business, government and the nonprofit world over a lifetime. — Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026

Who is drawn to the trend Early adopters skew male thanks to the practice’s roots in looksmaxxing and biohacking communities, but the audience is broadening quickly. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Museums take this educational role seriously, and many institutions understand the need to sustain and broaden their appeal. — Mureji Fatunde-Iloeje, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing broaden

• broaden one's horizons/mind

Rhymes for broaden

• codon
• sodden
• trodden
• woden
• anticodon
• downtrodden
• gliadin
• untrodden
• prekindergarten

Kids Definition

broaden

verb

broad·​en ˈbrȯd-ᵊn 

broadened; broadening ˈbrȯd-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become broad or broader

broaden your horizons