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.

---

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

See Examples For:

widely

The Call: The Japanese central bank is widely expected to keep its policy rate at 1% at the end of its two-day meeting Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

They appear to have understood that elephant bone offered advantages over more widely available animal bones.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

The search availability of the chat logs was removed over the weekend, but many were saved and shared widely online.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Between the Dodgers’ position in the standings, and the amount of talent they expect coming off the injured list, however, they don’t need to add Skubal to still be widely considered World Series favorites.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

The flying clouds hid it from their sight the next moment, but the men were grinning widely.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• broadly
• commonly
• generally
• universally