Definition of widenext

wide

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wide different from other adjectives like it?

The words broad and deep are common synonyms of wide. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide
a wide doorway

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wide
Adjective
Follow in those well-heeled footsteps with wide-fit pairs in perfectly aged washes–Dior, Nili Lotan, and Chloé agree. Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 10 July 2026 The country has plenty of great athletes who engage in a wide variety of sports. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Adverb
These deciduous trees are invasive in many areas because of their aggressive roots that spread wide and far, and their tendency to take over native plants. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 But the slot for two more winners in the quick commerce race remains wide open. Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • Organizing the festival during wartime has given it a broader purpose, Isaienko said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • Products with a broad range, such as beer, would benefit from multiple subcategories, ensuring that the production process is not prioritized over the alcoholic content.
    Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • But the projects often require extensive structural, plumbing, mechanical and redesign work that can make the project more complicated than building new housing from scratch.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Canonization is the process through which a deceased individual may become a saint, or is confirmed through an extensive research process to be in heaven.
    Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
Adverb
  • Mac still hasn’t quite put everything back together again, even after a rookie season that was eerily close to Nix’s numbers in 2024.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 July 2026
  • Sure, nothing on the road turns heads quite like a hot rod or vintage vehicle in pristine condition.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • With the blessing and support of the Forest Service, the tribe began working to restore parts of its homeland — not as a shrubland, or thick conifer forest, but an open and free tapestry anchored by oaks.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Big bluegills fight hard, and hauling them out of sunken trees or thick vegetation on light tackle takes real skill.
    Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Adjective
  • Ezra Jin, the founder of Zion Church, was among dozens of members caught up in a sweeping crackdown by Chinese authorities late last year.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • His use of the presidency’s sweeping ability to unilaterally grant pardons and commute sentences is among the ways the Republican’s return to office has featured an expansive use of executive power.
    Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Adverb
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • Most charging sites in California will include eight to 16 fast-charging stalls, said Walmart spokesperson Kelsey Bohl.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • Schmitt brought in an insurance run in the eighth, batting in Arraez with a sharp double to deep left-center.
    Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • Fans of Brazil, Colombia and Portugal also were crushed that their teams, expected to make deep runs, crashed out so early.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Adverb
  • The crafty 10th-seeded Czech, whose slices and volleys are perfectly suited to Wimbledon’s low-bouncing surface, carries a medicine cabinet’s worth of remedies to prove that the All England Club’s famous lawns can be a real irritant.
    Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Obama perfectly captured the moral realism that was so prevalent among Cold War liberals.
    David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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