widen
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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widensimple
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widenssimple
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have widenedperfect
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has widenedperfect
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am wideningprogressive
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are wideningprogressive
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is wideningprogressive
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have been wideningperfect progressive
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has been wideningperfect progressive
Past
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widenedsimple
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had widenedperfect
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was wideningprogressive
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were wideningprogressive
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had been wideningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of widen
Explanation
When you made something broader or more open, you widen it. In order to add bike lanes on your street, the city may need to widen it. Your friend's smile will undoubtedly widen when you hand him a chocolate cupcake — in other words, what starts as a grin gets bigger and wider. A scholar who widens her area of expertise adds subjects to her research, and your dinner options widen when two great new restaurants open in your town.
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.
There are now calls to widen the investigation to examine the case of Damion Russell after medics at Blackpool Victoria Hospital failed to ask his father about an old bruise on his head.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
The wave of redemptions could cause spreads to widen again, he figures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
For now, the Fed’s message has helped widen the perceived gap between U.S. rates and those in other major economies.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
Issuing $1.25 billion in common stock through an underwritten public offering, another $2 billion in an at-the-market offering and $3.75 billion in convertible preferred stock interests could widen the pool of shares.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
They pull the door open and Gracie’s eyes widen.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
