Synonyms

broaden

American

[brawd-n] / ˈbrɔd n /

verb (used with or without object)

to become or make broad.

Synonyms:

sophisticate, educate, inform, enlighten, widen, enlarge, expand, extend

broaden British

/ ˈbrɔːdən /

verb

to make or become broad or broader; widen

"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

overbroaden verb
rebroaden verb
unbroadened adjective

Etymology

Origin of broaden

First recorded in 1720–30; broad + -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.

“Migration has broadened Venezuela’s borders. We’re talking about a whole new geography.”

From Los Angeles Times

Wine has sought to broaden his appeal beyond Kampala and his native Buganda region, cannily adopting the national flag as his symbol, which has drawn the ire of the authorities.

From Barron's

Most of NIO’s overseas expansion in recent years has been in Europe, but it wants to broaden its reach this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ho-hum performance, including a decline in the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks, reversed the trend of broadening gains that prevailed earlier in the week.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The moves underline the market’s risk appetite and demonstrate the broadening in exposure to encompass overlooked value plays and small-caps, as well as tech,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.

From Barron's

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