widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē 

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

Examples 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

Exactly how long this period lasts can vary widely from card to card. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026

The opening of the new facility comes as Merck prepares for the upcoming loss of exclusivity of Keytruda, which is one of the world's top-selling drugs and is widely viewed as the backbone of modern cancer treatment. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Never had information been more widely diffused among ordinary people. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Republic Records chairman and CEO Jim Roppo is leaving the label too, sources say, with Roppo widely expected to be joining Warner Records. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing widely

• widely believed
• widely distributed

Rhymes for widely

• impliedly
• idly
• unqualifiedly