widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred 
1
: widely diffused or prevalent
widespread public interest
2
: widely extended or spread out
… low, widespread hood and fenders …—
Time
Timea widespread erosion surface—C. B. Hitchcock
C. B. HitchcockExamples 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
That coming Fall of 2020, universal masking in schools and daycares was recommended by the CDC and widespread mandates were enacted at the state, district and county levels for children as young as two.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
As in the Strait of Hormuz, disruption there, whether to shipping or seabed cables or both, would have rapid and widespread economic consequences.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
At Camino del Molino (CMOL) in Spain, over 1,300 individuals were laid to rest, 5,000 years ago, because respiratory disease had become widespread, killing a significant number of individuals, who had been laid to rest in this circular gravesite carved into rock.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
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Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
As in the Strait of Hormuz, disruption there, whether to shipping or seabed cables or both, would have rapid and widespread economic consequences.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
At Camino del Molino (CMOL) in Spain, over 1,300 individuals were laid to rest, 5,000 years ago, because respiratory disease had become widespread, killing a significant number of individuals, who had been laid to rest in this circular gravesite carved into rock.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred
1
: scattered or found over a wide area
widespread interest in the election
2
: spread out over a wide area
widespread wings
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