verb
widen
WYDN
verb
1
To become wider.
"Her eyes widened in surprise."
"The road widens just past the bridge."
2
To make something wider or broader.
"The council plans to widen the motorway next year."
"The new policy will widen access to healthcare."
How to Use Widen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make or become wider, either physically or in scope.
Common pairings
widen the gap
widen access
eyes widen
Word Forms
widened past tense, Widens plural, widens singular
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Etymology
From wide + the verb-forming suffix -en.