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
Timea widespread erosion surface—C. B. Hitchcock
C. B. HitchcockExamples 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
But despite strong technical progress, widespread adoption remains challenging due to cost, infrastructure demands, and limited technological maturity.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The monologue, and the film itself, left such a cultural impact that the 2026 sequel, which was filmed in New York City this summer, garnered widespread media attention, coverage and intrigue thanks to the designer costume pieces by Dior, Jean Paul Gautier and more.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
But while the plants are generating increasingly widespread enthusiasm, dark events are beginning to overshadow the news.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
The president's plea comes as the shutdown is having widespread impacts as flights are being cut, food benefits are in limbo and thousands of workers remain without pay.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
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Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The monologue, and the film itself, left such a cultural impact that the 2026 sequel, which was filmed in New York City this summer, garnered widespread media attention, coverage and intrigue thanks to the designer costume pieces by Dior, Jean Paul Gautier and more.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
But while the plants are generating increasingly widespread enthusiasm, dark events are beginning to overshadow the news.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
The president's plea comes as the shutdown is having widespread impacts as flights are being cut, food benefits are in limbo and thousands of workers remain without pay.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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