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
The platform supports a wide range of price points and categories, from daily essentials like specialty coffee, specific candles, or a preferred bottle of wine to high-end apparel, fine art, and home goods. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Modern armed forces increasingly require affordable platforms that can be adapted to changing missions and integrated into wider command-and-control networks. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Highs Friday likely stay into the 60s area-wide, with temperatures on Saturday morning dipping into the 40s. — Damien Lodes, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Sure enough, league-wide, teams have gotten increasingly good at limiting offense on fly balls and line drives thanks to defensive positioning. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • By contrast, long-term investing remains focused on owning productive assets, participating in economic growth and aligning investment decisions with broader financial objectives.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, Hugo says the case encompasses a much broader body of work stemming from compositions the two created during nearly 50 studio sessions between 2019 and 2021.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • California sought to adopt a price cap law this year as well, though the bill, which faced extensive lobbying from ticket resale platform StubHub, had failed.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Explain when your engagement is too extensive, when another type of provider may be a better fit and what responsibilities remain with the client.
    — Dennis Kirwan, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • The press release probably didn’t need to also say the company imbued it with distinctive character or charm; that’s quite obvious from the design.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing, however, has lived on quite like his appreciation for the mundane.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • If sauce is thick, stir in water, a spoonful at a time, to loosen.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Kitty-corner from the park is 16th Street Baptist Church, the city's first Black congregation, housed in a thick tan brick building of Romanesque-Byzantine design, which became a center for civil rights meetings.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In France, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally is leading presidential polls ahead of the 2027 election and has called for a sweeping overhaul of public broadcasting, including privatization.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Election Commission of India, an independent constitutional body, has sweeping powers to ensure that the polls remain beyond reproach.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • According to promoter Live Nation, the European leg broke several regional records, including the fastest-selling rap show in Greece and the biggest arena sales for a rap artist in Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Stichter is expecting gross margin to be up 50 basis points year-over-year for the fourth quarter ended September, helped by channel mix and DTC growing faster than wholesale.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Both have built much of their appeal on opposition to the political establishment, the promise to wish away budget constraints, and deep hostility toward the European Union.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Acting was his guiding passion, but his deep love for the avant-garde helped till the ground for the city’s theatrical renaissance that the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival catalyzed.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • On a blistering surprise EP, Deafheaven find the vicious attack and grandiose drama of symphonic black metal perfectly suited to their purposes.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Row’s perfectly balanced, Midas-touch accessories, to serve you a lifetime and beyond.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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