Widen (Verb)
Meaning 1
Make wider; "widen the road".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The new highway will widen the existing road to four lanes, allowing for easier access in and out of the city.
- The company has decided to widen the river by removing rocks and debris that clog the channel.
- Expanding into new markets can help widen your customer base and increase overall revenue.
- To reduce congestion, the city council voted to widen the lanes on Main Street during rush hour.
- The engineer's plan is to widen the bridge to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists.
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Related Words
Meaning 2
Make (clothes) larger; "Let out that dress--I gained a lot of weight".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The seamstress can widen the hem of the dress to accommodate the client's weight gain.
- To make the pants fit comfortably, the tailor had to widen the waistband and thighs.
- The alterations store will widen the shoulders of this jacket for an additional fee.
- She took her favorite jeans to the tailor to widen the legs, as they were too tight.
- If you've outgrown your favorite sweater, a skilled seamstress can widen it for you.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
Become broader or wider or more extensive; "The road widened".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The highway will widen over the next few years to accommodate the increase in traffic volume.
- As knowledge grows, the range of possibilities will widen and new opportunities will emerge.
- Over the next phase of development, the company will widen its product offerings to reach a broader market.
- Their perspectives began to widen as they traveled to different parts of the world.
- Efforts to widen the river and improve drainage will take several years to complete.
Antonyms
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Related Words
Meaning 4
Extend in scope or range or area; "The law was extended to all citizens"; "widen the range of applications"; "broaden your horizon"; "Extend your backyard".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The new policy aims to widen access to education for disadvantaged groups in society.
- The company plans to widen the scope of its marketing campaign to reach more customers.
- To improve her career prospects she decided to widen her skill set by taking more courses.
- The charitable organization hopes to widen the availability of the life-saving vaccine.
- As automation increases efficiency, some plants expect to widen their range of product offerings.