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
Current BiographyExamples 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
The Reserve Bank of India was widely expected to keep rates steady, as per economists polled by both Reuters and CNBC.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Amsterdam was once widely treated as the gay capital of Europe, with a lively scene around Reguliersdwarsstraat that turned the city into an international hub in the late twentieth century.
—Jurriaan Teulings, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
While much of the music by the artists he’s influenced is widely accessible, Screw’s own catalog has remained just short of mythical to most rap fans.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 June 2026
Peer review has been widely used since the post-World War II research boom, and relies on panels of experts in their fields judging federal funding decisions on the scientific merit of the grant proposals, rather than any politically-motivated criteria.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
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Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Amsterdam was once widely treated as the gay capital of Europe, with a lively scene around Reguliersdwarsstraat that turned the city into an international hub in the late twentieth century.
—Jurriaan Teulings, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
While much of the music by the artists he’s influenced is widely accessible, Screw’s own catalog has remained just short of mythical to most rap fans.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 June 2026
Peer review has been widely used since the post-World War II research boom, and relies on panels of experts in their fields judging federal funding decisions on the scientific merit of the grant proposals, rather than any politically-motivated criteria.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for widely
Cite this Entry
“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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