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
Made from lightweight fabric with an elastic drawstring waistband and two deep pockets, these wide-leg pants are a must-have for this season. Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Instead, a cotton-linen blend, like these Faleave wide-leg pants, is often easier to work with while still delivering a lightweight feel for hot summer days. Erin Cavoto, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Adverb
The Quakes, who are tied for first place in the Western Conference, have been paced by breakout forward Preston Judd, who is tied for fourth league-wide with 11 goals. Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 The semicircular blobs are from the carnivoran’s metacarpal pads; five digits extend out, short like a dog’s paws but spread wide like human fingers. Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • Shinto was formally separated from the state after World War II, but its traditions still reflect a broader history of religious and cultural influences.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • The investigation is part of a broader crackdown on what’s known as birth tourism, the practice of traveling to another country, so a child is born there.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2026
Adjective
  • Thousands of documents released by the Justice Department showed that Ruemmler and Epstein had an extensive relationship.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
  • Fire officials said the home sustained extensive damage from fire, soot, smoke, and water.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Adverb
  • The stakes for new avatar don’t feel quite as high—the specific circumstances around the former was a perfect storm that'll be tough to duplicate—but the music isn’t any less potent for it.
    Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
  • SpaceX tried to launch the Starship megarocket on its 13th test flight today but couldn't quite pull it off.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • And that’s a lot of energy to shed as a vehicle comes blaring back into Earth’s thick atmosphere, a process that typically annihilates objects returning from space unless they are precisely designed to survive the trip.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The water drew back from the house, left a thick, stinking silt across the floor.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • Hiring Epstein as president of baseball operations after the 2011 season led to sweeping changes.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Health effects from inhaling wildfire smoke But the effects are sweeping, said Hayden, who has developed real-time mapping of mortality estimates from wildfire smoke.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Adverb
  • The series unfolds against Japan’s ongoing debate over beauty standards – a culture growing more open to diverse appearances even as its cosmetic surgery sector remains one of its fastest-growing industries.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Adjective
  • Others demonstrate a star’s deep passion for agriculture or oenology.
    Emily Saladino, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
  • That would explain another of the company’s findings, an uptick in country-specific exports after a deep run into the tournament.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 16 July 2026
Adverb
  • The set up is fairly basic but perfectly presentable and for families, the functionality will be much more welcome than fancy tech, especially the small balcony/patio, dining table and kitchenette in the slightly larger rooms.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • So, how could a raccoon, an animal that evolved over hundreds of millions of years to adapt itself perfectly to swampy forests, find such runaway success living amid the most destructive and systematically ruthless species ever to exist?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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