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 5-foot-8, 148-pound player has had to adjust to what is widely considered a more physical league compared to some other competitions in Europe. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026 Right now, quality from district to district varies far too widely, and that inconsistency is harming students and achievement overall. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 The footage, which has been circulated widely on social media, shows the object narrowly missing the animal as onlookers react with alarm. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 May 2026 Quality and purity vary widely in the supplement space. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 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 9 May. 2026.

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