widely

American  

[wahyd-lee] / ˈwaɪd li /

adverb

1. to a wide extent.

2. over a wide space or area.

   a widely distributed plant.

3. by or among a large number of persons.

   a widely known artist.

4. in many or various subjects, cases, etc..

   to be widely read.

5. greatly, very much, or very.

   widely differing accounts of an event.

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Etymology

Origin of widely

First recorded in 1655–65; wide + -ly

Explanation

The adverb widely is good for describing something that happens over a broad area or in a big way. If it is widely believed that the stock market will crash, then you better sell, sell, sell. If the houses in your neighborhood vary widely, there is an enormous amount of difference between each house — a tiny bungalow next door to a huge mansion, for example. Likewise, when you smile widely at a cute little kid, it's a big smile. The adverb widely comes from the adjective wide, or broad, from an Old English root word, wīd, "spacious or extensive."

Example Sentences

Widely considered the greatest golfer of all time, Woods has amassed 82 PGA Tour wins, including 15 majors.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Widely across England and Wales temperatures will get into the mid to high teens.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Widely used tax breaks are becoming more generous because of the law.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

Widely considered East Africa’s leading novelist and one of the continent’s most articulate social critics, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o examined the enduring traumatic effects of colonialism on both individuals and the national psyche.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Widely different from the mink's scarcely visible ears, this fellow's ears are sharply upright, keenly alert.

From The Story of the Trapper by Laut, A. C.

Related Words

• broadly
• commonly
• generally
• universally