widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
Synonyms of widelynext
1
: over or through a wide area
has traveled widely
2
: to a great extent
departed widely from the previous edition
3
: by or among a large well-dispersed group of people
a widely known political figure
4
: over a broad range
… persons with widely fluctuating incomes.Current Biography

Examples of widely in a Sentence

Their products are widely available. a widely known political figure The books are widely read by adults as well as children.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The videos have circulated widely as the group continues eastward. Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026 But that explanation has been widely panned by Walz and others based on videos of the confrontation. Wcco Staff, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026 With her buzzy role as the socialite and businesswoman Alexis Colby, Collins is widely credited with catapulting Dynasty’s ratings into the stratosphere. Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026 Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for widely

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widely was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

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