WIDELY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

WIDELY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms widely American [ wahyd -lee] / ˈwaɪd li / adverb to a wide extent. over a wide space or area. a widely distributed plant. by or among a large number of persons. a widely known artist. in many or various subjects, cases, etc.. to be widely read. 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." Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com 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. The trio is widely regarded as one of the greatest forward lines in the history of English football, having helped Jurgen Klopp's side win a haul of major trophies. From BBC • May 6, 2026 The 24-hour news channel was not widely expected to be a success. From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026 The ADP and BLS reports can vary widely from month to month, as they did in March, but they move in the same direction over time. From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026 And a May inflation report, due early next week, is widely expected to show prices rising at an annual pace near 4%, almost double the Fed’s 2% target. From Barron's • May 6, 2026 She smiled, more widely this time, and nodded. From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell Related Words broadly commonly generally universally 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.