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

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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

See Examples For:

widely

Forecasts will need to be monitored closely as there is potential later in the week that we could see our first spell of widely disruptive weather this season.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

The most widely noted hack of a local school district was the cyberattack on Los Angeles Unified over Labor Day weekend in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Others, including widely used polyethylene, are far more resistant to biological degradation.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

A landlocked country still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used sports to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organisational efficiency.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Books vary widely on their inclusion of cultural information, but some type of description adds tremendously to the value of the book and to the understanding required to evaluate and learn the material.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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Related Words

• broadly
• commonly
• generally
• universally

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