widespread

wide·spread | \ ˈwīd-ˈspred

How to pronounce widespread (audio)

\

Definition of widespread

1 : widely diffused or prevalent widespread public interest

2 : widely extended or spread out low, widespread hood and fenders — Time a widespread erosion surface— C. B. Hitchcock

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about widespread

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of widespread in a Sentence

There is widespread public interest in the election. Trade partners had become more widespread. There was widespread opposition to the plan.

Recent Examples on the Web Though not as severe or widespread, the unrest was the most significant in Cincinnati since protests and violence erupted in 2001 after the police shooting of an unarmed black man in Over-the-Rhine. — Dan Horn, Cincinnati.com, "Unrest in Cincinnati: City leaders impose curfew, urge calm as protests continue," 30 May 2020 So who was to blame for the widespread damage that upended downtown Louisville at Friday night's protest? — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Greg Fischer, Louisville police blame looting at Breonna Taylor protest on out-of-towners," 30 May 2020 The video in Minneapolis drew widespread condemnation from police authorities, politicians, and countless viewers, who watched Chauvin press Floyd into the pavement during an arrest. — Robert Klemko, BostonGlobe.com, "Former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death as protests continue nationwide," 29 May 2020 Some scientists—including the company’s chief medical officer Tal Zaks—predict a vaccine could be available for widespread use later this year or in early 2021. — Jillian Kramer, Scientific American, "Coronavirus Antibody Therapies Raise Hopes—and Skepticism," 29 May 2020 The technology wasn’t fast enough for widespread use—hours could pass while the computers synchronized—but the basic template for remote work had been set. — Cal Newport, The New Yorker, "Can Remote Work Be Fixed?," 26 May 2020 While the push for more widespread use of clear face masks is ongoing, the reality is that deaf and hard of hearing people have had to rely on other resources to communicate effectively and access information. — NBC News, "New normal of masks is an 'added barrier' for deaf and hard-of-hearing community," 23 May 2020 Now researchers say that widespread use of face coverings helps curb the spread of the virus. — Julie Washington, cleveland, "Revised CDC guidance: Coronavirus travels more through crowded spaces than dirty surfaces," 23 May 2020 More widespread use of an existing, cost-effective testing solution, which can be done at home, could literally change hundreds of thousands of lives in the fight against a disease the WHO has placed in its crosshairs. — Emma Mckim Mitchell, STAT, "All women should have access to the at-home test that can provide early detection of cervical cancer," 22 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'widespread.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about widespread

Dictionary Entries near widespread

Statistics for widespread

Last Updated

2 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for widespread

widespread

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of widespread

: common over a wide area or among many people

See the full definition for widespread in the English Language Learners Dictionary

widespread

wide·spread | \ ˈwīd-ˈspred

\

Kids Definition of widespread

1 : widely stretched out widespread wings

2 : widely scattered widespread public interest

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

May 2020 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of exiguous?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.