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.
González seized on this issue in her 2024 election campaign and promised to sack LUMA, a move that is widely popular with her frustrated constituents. Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026 But beneath the apparent stability of Parisian politics, the first round of voting last Sunday did reflect an important electoral shift in municipal elections widely seen as both a launching pad and a bellwether for France’s parties one year ahead of the presidential poll. Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026 With the help of Vitello, Scherzer was the 11th overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft and is widely considered a future inductee into the baseball Hall of Fame. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026 The focus on Vance is not unusual for a vice president widely seen as a potential future nominee, particularly one as young as 41. ABC News, 22 Mar. 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 26 Mar. 2026.

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