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

Previously, because of the US’ global political and economic power, it was widely accepted the cardinals would not choose an American pope. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026

An all-electric, energy-efficient alternative to gas-burning furnaces, heat pumps are widely seen as the climate-friendly home heater of choice. —Ben Christopher, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

The health care sector accounted for the vast majority of new openings last year, which economists widely attribute to a growing population aging into a new phase of care needs. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026

He was widely thought to have been in a bunker. —Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 1 Mar. 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