widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
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 incomesCurrent 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
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.
Internet regulators clarified live streaming rules, but this was widely expected and did not impact the market. Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 During the hearing, Hegseth is widely expected to dodge many of the specifics on the military's spending blueprint, which has not been released, and instead highlight recent gains in recruiting numbers and new technology initiatives in the Army. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 10 June 2025 Before hip-hop was widely accepted as pop, he was especially drawn to rap. Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 9 June 2025 The beaches and barrier islands of North Carolina, with their dunes, grasslands, and salt marshes, are widely known for their beauty. Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for widely

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widely was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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