widely

adverb

wide·​ly ˈwīd-lē How to pronounce widely (audio)
Synonyms of widelynext
1
: over or through a wide area
has traveled widely
2
: to a great extent
departed widely from the previous edition
3
: by or among a large well-dispersed group of people
a widely known political figure
4
: over a broad range
… persons with widely fluctuating incomes.Current Biography

Examples of widely in a Sentence

Their products are widely available. a widely known political figure The books are widely read by adults as well as children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Brain scans were not widely available, and there was scant knowledge of sleep stages such as REM sleep, when more vivid dreams take place. Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026 The actress, who played Charlotte York on the series, acknowledged that the conversation has gained traction in recent years, particularly as clips of the show circulate widely on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026 Dolan’s key priorities have been optimizing financials and brand impact by making AMC hit content available as widely as possible — including through licensing to other companies, while also looking for opportunities for further streaming subscriber growth, as well as broad distribution. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation runs what is widely considered the largest 50/50 raffle in professional sports. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for widely

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widely was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widely. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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