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. HitchcockSynonyms
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
This is a plant native to the eastern USA that is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
On Friday, Israel responded to Iranian attacks from the preceding week, adding another layer of uncertainty to the volatile situation in the Middle East, despite widespread international calls for de-escalation.
—Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Bow was not only a film icon, but also an inspiration to young women who wanted to challenge narrow ideas of femininity that were widespread in the 1920s.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024
The weekend attack sparked widespread fears of a sharp escalation of conflict, as regional tensions have heightened amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
Eid al-Fitr prayers in India, trophy winners at the Boston Marathon, the burning of a historic building in Denmark, a wildfire in Kosovo, widespread flooding in Russia, a joyous water festival in Thailand, a music festival in China, and much more
Hints: View this page full screen.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.
—Mary Clare Jalonick and Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
Scattered to more widespread showers and thunderstorms are likely after sunrise Thursday, lasting until a cold front pushes through in the early afternoon, according to the weather service’s forecast discussion.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The storm first hit Oman on Sunday, causing widespread flash flooding and leading officials to close schools and government offices.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
On Friday, Israel responded to Iranian attacks from the preceding week, adding another layer of uncertainty to the volatile situation in the Middle East, despite widespread international calls for de-escalation.
—Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Bow was not only a film icon, but also an inspiration to young women who wanted to challenge narrow ideas of femininity that were widespread in the 1920s.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024
The weekend attack sparked widespread fears of a sharp escalation of conflict, as regional tensions have heightened amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
Eid al-Fitr prayers in India, trophy winners at the Boston Marathon, the burning of a historic building in Denmark, a wildfire in Kosovo, widespread flooding in Russia, a joyous water festival in Thailand, a music festival in China, and much more
Hints: View this page full screen.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.
—Mary Clare Jalonick and Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
Scattered to more widespread showers and thunderstorms are likely after sunrise Thursday, lasting until a cold front pushes through in the early afternoon, according to the weather service’s forecast discussion.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The storm first hit Oman on Sunday, causing widespread flash flooding and leading officials to close schools and government offices.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'widespread.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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