wide

1 of 2

adjective

wider; widest
1
a
: having great extent : vast
a wide area
b
: extending over a vast area : extensive
a wide reputation
c
: extending throughout a specified area or scope
usually used in combination
nationwide
industry-wide
d
: comprehensive, inclusive
a wide assortment
2
a
: having a specified extension from side to side
3 feet wide
b
: having much extent between the sides : broad
a wide doorway
c
: fully opened
wide-eyed
3
a
: extending or fluctuating considerably between limits
a wide variation
b
: straying or deviating from something specified
used with of
the accusation was wide of the truth
4
of an animal ration : relatively rich in carbohydrate as compared with protein
wideness noun

wide

2 of 2

adverb

wider; widest
1
a
: over a great distance or extent : widely
searched far and wide
b
: over a specified distance, area, or extent
usually used in combination
expanded the business country-wide
2
a
: so as to leave much space or distance between
placed wide apart
b
: so as to pass at or clear by a considerable distance
ran wide around left end
3
: to the fullest extent : completely, fully
wide open
Choose the Right Synonym for wide

broad, wide, deep mean having horizontal extent.

broad and wide apply to a surface measured or viewed from side to side.

a broad avenue

wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned

rugs eight feet wide

or applied to unfilled space between limits.

a wide doorway

broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Examples of wide in a Sentence

Adjective the widest part of the river The desk is three feet wide. How wide is the doorway? Her eyes were wide with wonder. We have a wide range of options. a job calling for wide experience The election received wide news coverage. Adverb The poles were placed wide apart. He opened his eyes wide. They spread the map out wide. His mouth was wide open. They like to hike through wide open spaces.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The armrests are wide enough for holding a beverage, and the extra-wide back pairs perfectly with throw pillows for a boost of style and comfort. Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Voters don’t like wide open-borders, inflation, and the Ukraine war machine. TIME, 7 Mar. 2024 At-large and other delegates are awarded proportionally based on the statewide vote, and district delegates are awarded proportionally based on the district-wide vote. USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 After working with stars like Judy Garland, Danny Kaye, Harry Belafonte, and Jackie Gleason on TV specials, Jewison helmed a wide variety of popular films in wildly different genres, including Fiddler on the Roof, The Thomas Crown Affair, Rollerball, The Cincinnati Kid, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Ew Staff, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2024 The fun pattern options include daisies, leopard print, and solids in a wide variety of shades, with sizes ranging from S to XXL. Laura Lu, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024 Mental health in teens is complex and can be influenced by a wide variety of factors outside of social media, the company spokesperson said. Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Suffice it to say that a wide disparity can exist with such a gap. Ed Beltran, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Laura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024
Adverb
The field was left wide open when incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Lake Norman-area Republican, announced his plans to step down from the seat after this term, ending a 20-year run in Congress. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 And with Porter vying for that Senate race, that leaves the 47th congressional seat in Orange County wide open. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 At the time, New York, like video itself, was wide open for imaginative artists. Susan Dominus Emiliano Granado, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 With the exhaust wide open, all of a sudden the Cherokee transforms into an entirely different beast. Michael Van Runkle, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Soon, recording studio doors were swinging wide open for Carne, leading to collaborations with Earth, Wind & Fire and Gamble and Huff, all the way to the singer’s most recent sessions with legendary hip-hop producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The fluted, soft-close doors open wide, revealing two spacious storage areas to place everything from throw blankets to books. Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024 Johnson, 6-6 and 264 pounds, logged over 300 snaps as an inline tight end but also took 200 snaps either out wide or in the slot. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 Soon, recording studio doors were swinging wide open for Carne, leading to collaborations with Earth, Wind & Fire, and Gamble and Huff, all the way to the singer’s most recent sessions with legendary hip-hop producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English wīd; akin to Old High German wīt wide

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of wide was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wide

Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wide. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wide

1 of 2 adjective
wider; widest
1
a
: covering a large area
the whole wide world
b
: extending over, reaching, or affecting a vast area : extensive
wide publicity
c
: not limited : comprehensive
a job calling for wide experience
a wide assortment
2
a
: measured across or at right angles to length
cloth 40 feet wide
b
: having a great measure across : broad
a wide river
c
: opened as far as possible
3
a
: extending or fluctuating considerably between limits
a wide variation
b
: far from the thing in question
a charge wide of the truth
widely adverb
wideness noun

wide

2 of 2 adverb
1
: over a great distance or extent : widely
searched far and wide
2
a
: so as to leave much space between
placed wide apart
b
: so as to clear by a wide distance
ran wide around the left end
3
: to the fullest extent : completely
opened his eyes wide

More from Merriam-Webster on wide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!