widened; widening
ˈwīd-niŋ 
ˈwī-dᵊn-iŋ
: to increase the width, scope, or extent of
widen a road
widen an investigation
: to become wide or wider
a widening gap
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
Getty Images The number of vessels navigating the critically important Strait of Hormuz appears to be declining, according to the world's largest shipping association, amid deepening fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East.
—
Sam Meredith, CNBC, 23 June 2025
In other words: Further wants to close the widening gap between creative talent and opportunity … for creators with an audience or the potential to build one.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
And that could widen political cracks between hawks in the administration and parts of Trump’s MAGA faithful who are against the U.S. being involved in overseas wars.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 22 June 2025
Based on past geopolitical conflicts, investors should be prepared for pressure on stocks at the start of any widening conflict.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for widen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Sam Meredith, CNBC, 23 June 2025
In other words: Further wants to close the widening gap between creative talent and opportunity … for creators with an audience or the potential to build one.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
And that could widen political cracks between hawks in the administration and parts of Trump’s MAGA faithful who are against the U.S. being involved in overseas wars.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 22 June 2025
Based on past geopolitical conflicts, investors should be prepared for pressure on stocks at the start of any widening conflict.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for widen
Cite this Entry
“Widen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widen. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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