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

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Etymology

Origin of broaden

First recorded in 1720–30; broad + -en ¹

Explanation

To broaden something is to make it wider or more expansive. If you wake up feeling less than cheerful, the sight of the doughnuts your dad got for breakfast might broaden your smile. Something can broaden literally, like a river that broadens as you hike beside it, growing wider as it flows south. Things also broaden figuratively, the way people's minds tend to broaden when they travel around the world and meet people from different cultures. In both cases, things that broaden expand and become more open.

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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.

Mooney has twice introduced House bills trying to win official status for the bird, including adding the scrub jay as the state songbird in this past legislative session to broaden support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

At times, optimism around stronger economic growth has helped the bull market broaden out beyond its tech leadership.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 21, 2026

According to the study, M-dwarf stars,which make up roughly 75% of all stars in the Milky Way, are especially likely to broaden narrowband radio signals before they can escape the system.

From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026

Regulatory clarity from government involvement can establish durable rules, reduce tail risks, and broaden public acceptance of AI.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

It will broaden his experience in some ways, but it will also curtail his contact with clients.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

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