wide 1 of 2

Definition of widenext

wide

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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
These players come from a wide range of programs across the Austin area and represent all positions on the diamond. Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026 Her wide-leg trousers came in a matching deep blue hue and incorporated cargo pockets. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Or, a player was wide open earlier in a blowout. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Without Gore, the rotation is wide open. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • The university disputed his statement, saying the deficit is substantially lower and stems from broader institutional and external factors.
    Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Some board members who voted no said the district had not sufficiently demonstrated that broad layoff notices were the most responsible or strategic option and argued that the analysis did not fully account for the operational and human consequences of issuing RIF notices at that scale.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Models require extensive training to enable them to identify everyday objects to interact with, which means that simple tasks like picking up fruit can be challenging in robotics.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Coastal Fish also offers some of the best seafood around, along with an extensive wine list and cocktail menu.
    USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Gradual warming across Maryland through Thursday Early morning temperatures stayed safely above freezing in and around the Baltimore Beltway, but fog continues to be quite problematic.
    Steven Sosna, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The circumstances were quite different in 2016, though, as William and Kate were happy and in love; Diana, though on a visit to India with her then-husband Prince Charles, poignantly visited the monument to love solo.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Mathews vividly remembers riding in one of her father’s water trucks through thick smoke as black as the night to help family members and other ranchers save their homes.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Now, a team of researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences has shown that even a bare carbon fiber, no thicker than a human hair, can bend and straighten on command, without any direct wiring.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Galleries devoted to world cultures, rotating contemporary exhibitions and sweeping public terraces overlooking the Spree position the institution as both museum and gathering place.
    Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Zelensky pressed for partners to intensify pressure on Russia to end the war, pointing to the sweeping human costs of the conflict.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Mortgage rates are falling, wages are rising faster than home prices and homebuyers are scooping up their biggest discounts in years, some analysts told ABC News.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • If other states mint new millionaires faster—through a tech boom (in California), an energy boom (in Texas), or real-estate inflation (in Florida)—New York’s slice shrinks regardless of migration.
    Christopher Marquis, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Gas fireplaces turn on with a flip of a switch and deep Italian marble tubs are easily large enough for two.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • That day, combined with an indigo blue dress, Máxima perfectly understood the symbolic weight of the royal jewelry box.
    Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
  • With a perfectly crispy and browned panko crust, this casserole is nearly irresistible.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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