widen

American

[wahyd-n] / ˈwaɪd n /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become wide or wider; broaden; expand.

widen British

/ ˈwaɪdən /

verb

to make or become wide or wider

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

rewiden verb
unwidened adjective
widener noun

Etymology

Origin of widen

First recorded in 1600–10; wide + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The cells produced much less nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and widen, and more endothelin-1, which causes vessels to tighten.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Lawyers representing the women are calling for the trust to widen the scope of reviews and go back further.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

This divergence could further widen economic, financial and policy gaps across regions.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Should the current cracks widen, the implications could extend well beyond semiconductors.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

And as the U-boat inched closer to their landing spot, the rift continued to widen.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023