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
The vote marks the first time administrators have joined a strike alongside other LAUSD unions and aligns all three major labor groups in a coordinated potential walkout, raising the likelihood of widespread disruptions in the nation’s second-largest school district.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Have your umbrella ready on Easter as a cold front will move through the area bringing widespread showers to the region.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The widespread reach of social media has brought videos of war zones and the voices of people living through wars to global audiences, but often provocative images and videos that lack context can spread and be reshared in ways that further strip away context and nuance.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Idaho budget writers also pulled back $14 million in federal grants to expand the state’s child care assistance program over concerns of widespread fraud linked to violations in Minnesota.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Have your umbrella ready on Easter as a cold front will move through the area bringing widespread showers to the region.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The widespread reach of social media has brought videos of war zones and the voices of people living through wars to global audiences, but often provocative images and videos that lack context can spread and be reshared in ways that further strip away context and nuance.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Idaho budget writers also pulled back $14 million in federal grants to expand the state’s child care assistance program over concerns of widespread fraud linked to violations in Minnesota.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
