wider; widest
1
a
: having great extent : vast
a wide area
b
: extending over a vast area : extensive
a wide reputation
c
: extending throughout a specified area or scope
—usually used in combination
nationwide
industry-wide
d
: comprehensive, inclusive
a wide assortment
2
a
: having a specified extension from side to side
3 feet wide
b
: having much extent between the sides : broad
a wide doorway
c
: fully opened
wide-eyed
d
3
a
: extending or fluctuating considerably between limits
a wide variation
b
: straying or deviating from something specified
—used with of
the accusation was wide of the truth
4
of an animal ration
: relatively rich in carbohydrate as compared with protein
wideness
noun
wider; widest
1
a
: over a great distance or extent : widely
searched far and wide
b
: over a specified distance, area, or extent
—usually used in combination
expanded the business country-wide
2
a
: so as to leave much space or distance between
placed wide apart
b
: so as to pass at or clear by a considerable distance
ran wide around left end
3
: to the fullest extent : completely, fully
wide open
Synonyms
Adjective
Adverb
Examples of wide in a Sentence
Adjective
the widest part of the river
The desk is three feet wide.
How wide is the doorway?
Her eyes were wide with wonder.
We have a wide range of options.
a job calling for wide experience
The election received wide news coverage.
Adverb
The poles were placed wide apart.
He opened his eyes wide.
They spread the map out wide.
His mouth was wide open.
They like to hike through wide open spaces.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Pirsig used the ride to frame an intense philosophical work that was published to wide acclaim and is still relevant today.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Then, Chrisman-Campbell theorizes, as the reign of skinny jeans came to an end, pandemic lockdowns accelerated the spread of wide pants.
—Kai McNamee, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
The widest before-and-after gap was in San Francisco, which has struggled mightily to regain its business district and is still only 50% of the way there.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Unlike Biden administration officials who have urged Ukrainian leaders not to attack oil refineries and other energy targets on Russian soil, Cameron said that Britain supported Ukraine’s right to take a wide range of actions to beat back the Kremlin.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Both chambers have wide Democratic majorities, but at times each has acted as a check on the other, often to the frustration of lawmakers and their allies who get caught in the middle.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Flexible work covers a wide range of workplace arrangements—whether that’s part-time, remote or compressed work—and could differ from employee to employee.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Anna Sago, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Perched on a nearby seamount was an orange sea creature, its five arms spread wide.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Guthrie then shared a series of Instagram Stories of the co-anchors smiling wide at the sky with their protective shades.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Instead of closing your eyes to masturbate with your favorite toy, leave your eyes wide open.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
In short order, the news goes wide: Kurt Cobain has died by suicide.
—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
The castle was 138 feet (42 meters) long and 56 feet (17 meters) wide, and some of its walls were as thick as 18 feet (5.6 meters), per the statement.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The studio announced Friday that Wolf Man, the werewolf thriller from filmmaker Leigh Whannell (Invisible Man), has delayed its release by three months and will now open wide in theaters on Jan. 17, 2025.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
There is similarly no obvious external successor candidate, leaving the Boeing CEO race wide open for the first time in decades.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The managing directors will work on a wide range of strategic and operation matters while the agency board will focus on organization, dealmaking, sustained innovation and development and training.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Pirsig used the ride to frame an intense philosophical work that was published to wide acclaim and is still relevant today.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Then, Chrisman-Campbell theorizes, as the reign of skinny jeans came to an end, pandemic lockdowns accelerated the spread of wide pants.
—Kai McNamee, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
The widest before-and-after gap was in San Francisco, which has struggled mightily to regain its business district and is still only 50% of the way there.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Unlike Biden administration officials who have urged Ukrainian leaders not to attack oil refineries and other energy targets on Russian soil, Cameron said that Britain supported Ukraine’s right to take a wide range of actions to beat back the Kremlin.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Both chambers have wide Democratic majorities, but at times each has acted as a check on the other, often to the frustration of lawmakers and their allies who get caught in the middle.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Flexible work covers a wide range of workplace arrangements—whether that’s part-time, remote or compressed work—and could differ from employee to employee.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Adverb
But consultants who spoke with The Star painted the race as wide open in which candidates will be able to out-raise each other in the coming months.
—Anna Sago, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Perched on a nearby seamount was an orange sea creature, its five arms spread wide.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Guthrie then shared a series of Instagram Stories of the co-anchors smiling wide at the sky with their protective shades.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Instead of closing your eyes to masturbate with your favorite toy, leave your eyes wide open.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
In short order, the news goes wide: Kurt Cobain has died by suicide.
—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
The castle was 138 feet (42 meters) long and 56 feet (17 meters) wide, and some of its walls were as thick as 18 feet (5.6 meters), per the statement.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The studio announced Friday that Wolf Man, the werewolf thriller from filmmaker Leigh Whannell (Invisible Man), has delayed its release by three months and will now open wide in theaters on Jan. 17, 2025.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
There is similarly no obvious external successor candidate, leaving the Boeing CEO race wide open for the first time in decades.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wide
Cite this Entry
“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wide. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wide
1 of 2 adjective
wider; widest
1
a
: covering a large area
the whole wide world
b
: extending over, reaching, or affecting a vast area : extensive
wide publicity
c
: not limited : comprehensive
a job calling for wide experience
a wide assortment
2
a
: measured across or at right angles to length
cloth 40 feet wide
b
: having a great measure across : broad
a wide river
c
: opened as far as possible
3
a
: extending or fluctuating considerably between limits
a wide variation
b
: far from the thing in question
a charge wide of the truth
widely
adverb
wideness
noun
wide
2 of 2 adverb1
: over a great distance or extent : widely
searched far and wide
2
a
: so as to leave much space between
placed wide apart
b
: so as to clear by a wide distance
ran wide around the left end
3
: to the fullest extent : completely
opened his eyes wide
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