widen

verb

wid·​en ˈwī-dᵊn 

widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ 

ˈwī-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to increase the width, scope, or extent of

widen a road

widen an investigation

intransitive verb

: to become wide or wider

a widening gap

widener

ˈwīd-nər 

ˈwī-dᵊn-ər

noun

Examples of widen in a Sentence

The city is going to widen the road.

They plan to widen the investigation.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

They went swimming at a spot where the river widens.

The scope of the investigation has widened.

Recent Examples on the Web

Seven women from the Iranian national soccer team remain in Australia, an Australian government official said Wednesday, as the rest of their team journeys back to a country at the center of a widening conflict in the Middle East. —Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026

Here’s what to know about the strait and the widening Iran war. —Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026

That margin will widen with time, most certainly. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026

Oracle's 5-year credit default swaps widened as bond investors were skeptical of the enterprise software company's ability to hold on to its investment-grade credit rating, currently two notches above junk. —Seema Mody, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for widen

• poseidon

Kids Definition

widen

verb

wid·​en ˈwīd-ᵊn 

widened; widening ˈwīd-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become wide or wider : broaden