wide 1 of 2

Definition of widenext

wide

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wide different from other adjectives like it?

The words broad and deep are common synonyms of wide. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide
a wide doorway

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

How is the word wide different from other adjectives like it?

The words broad and deep are common synonyms of wide. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide
a wide doorway

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wide
Adjective
Graduate workers fill a wide range of roles at the university, including teaching classes and conducting research. Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 The campus-wide installation fills galleries and gardens alike with vibrant color, monumental forms, and immersive works that highlight the artist’s extraordinary influence on contemporary glass art. Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
The film will go wide ahead of Christmas on Wednesday, December 22, 2027. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 Arvidsson circled wide and came in slowly but Lyon left him no opening. ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • The race came amid a broader power struggle between the two sides of City Hall early in both Mamdani and Menin’s leadership, but the election will also have a more immediate impact.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but some Republicans rejected the bill, opposing earmarking millions more to maintain the fortified Capitol and equip it with the staff necessary to keep the screenings going.
    Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • My daughter’s learning disabilities required extensive intervention.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Broncos’ third-round pick didn’t take a top-30 visit or have extensive pre-draft communication with Denver, as the organization typically keeps its board close to its vest.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • However, the day did not go quite according to plan for Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean, and that was all thanks to an unfortunate run-in — in the most literal sense imaginable — with a bird.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • General Daily Insight for April 29, 2026 Tension shows up today when timing, tone, or expectations don’t quite match.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Across the street, through a thick tangle of forest, the Khodymchuks’ building stood tall and gray in the snow.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Not only does the material ensure comfort and support, but the unique design, with thick straps that curve to the exact shape of my arches and a cupped heel, creates a glove-like fit that hugs my feet.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Towering columns and sweeping walls of gas and dust dominate the scene.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Set against the sweeping natural landscape of the eponymous island.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Healthcare costs also have gone up fast.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Mercury in your 3rd House of Communication keeps conversations active and fast-moving.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But for many, the occasion carried a deeper meaning, one centered on those who dreamed of connecting Los Angeles to Chicago by road generations before them.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.
    Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Adverb
  • Her racial ambiguity was perfectly calibrated to an era in which brands were clamoring to amplify their social-media presence by appealing to as many audiences as possible.
    T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Greenard perfectly fit defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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