widen

/ˈwaɪdn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwaɪdn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwī-dᵊn/ (ame, mw)

widen — verb

  • widenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • widenshe / she / it
  • widenedpast simple
  • widening-ing form

1. if something widens or you widen it, the distance from one side to the other get

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

if something widens or you widen it, the distance from one side to the other gets bigger

例句

The construction crew widened the road from two lanes to four.

transitive: widen + road/path/opening

Joon's smile widened when his sister brought out the birthday cake.

同義詞
  • broaden

    nearly identical; often preferred for surfaces and smiles

  • expand

    suggests growth in every direction, not just width

  • enlarge

    making bigger overall; common for images, photos, or openings

反義詞
  • narrow

    the direct opposite; to make or become narrower in width

文法句型

widen + noun phrase

noun phrase + widens

用法筆記

Frequently used with objects that have a measurable physical dimension, such as roads, rivers, openings, cracks, or body parts like a smile. The intransitive use describes a natural change happening by itself without an agent.

常見錯誤

❌The river widen after the storm.
✅The river widened after the storm.
💡'widen' is a regular verb; use the -ed suffix for past tense.
❌She widened the photo.
✅She widened the photo by cropping the edges.
💡state what you changed the width of; 'widen' needs a measurable dimension context.

2. to increase the range of things that are included or affected, or to become grea

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to increase the range of things that are included or affected, or to become greater in extent, degree, or influence

例句

The school widened its music programme to include guitar and piano lessons.

transitive: widen + programme/range/scope

Soraya's year abroad widened her understanding of different cultures and customs.

同義詞
  • broaden

    very similar; often used interchangeably for experiences and horizons

  • expand

    grow in size, scale, or volume; more general than 'widen'

  • extend

    make longer or reach further; emphasises pushing a limit outward

反義詞
  • narrow

    can apply to scope, range, or gap

  • restrict

    impose limits; stronger and more formal than 'narrow'

  • limit

    keep within a boundary; neutral register

文法句型

widen + noun phrase (abstract)

noun phrase + widens

用法筆記

Common with abstract nouns such as 'range', 'scope', 'gap', 'horizons', 'interests', 'understanding', and 'search'. Often used in semi-formal or formal contexts describing institutional changes or personal development. Distinguish from Sense 1 by the object type: Sense 1 takes concrete physical objects; Sense 2 takes abstract concepts.

常見錯誤

❌The company widened its products.
✅The company widened its product range.
💡'widen' needs a noun like 'range', 'selection', or 'variety'; it does not take the product names directly as an object.
❌The gap between rich and poor is widening more.
✅The gap between rich and poor is widening.
💡'grow' or 'increase' are more natural with 'more'; 'widen' already expresses the change.