/ waɪd; NAmE / adjective , adverb , noun
■ adjective
( wider , wid·est )
FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER
1.
measuring a lot from one side to the other :
a wide river
Sam has a wide mouth.
a jacket with wide lapels
Her face broke into a wide grin .
OPP narrow
—see also width
2.
measuring a particular distance from one side to the other :
How wide is that stream?
It's about 2 metres wide.
The road was just wide enough for two vehicles to pass.
LARGE NUMBER / AMOUNT
3.
including a large number or variety of different people or things; covering a large area :
a wide range / choice / variety of goods
Her music appeals to a wide audience.
Jenny has a wide circle of friends.
a manager with wide experience of industry
It's the best job in the whole wide world .
The incident has received wide coverage in the press.
The festival attracts people from a wide area.
DIFFERENCE / GAP
4.
very big :
There are wide variations in prices.
GENERAL
5.
(only used in the comparative and superlative) general; not only looking at details :
the wider aims of the project
We are talking about education in its widest sense .
EYES
6.
fully open :
She stared at him with wide eyes.
NOT CLOSE
7.
wide (of sth) far from the point aimed at :
Her shot was wide (of the target).
-WIDE
8.
(in adjectives and adverbs) happening or existing in the whole of a country, etc. :
a nationwide search
We need to act on a Europe-wide scale.
•
IDIOMS
- give sb/sth a wide berth
- wide of the mark
■ adverb
( wider , wid·est ) as far or fully as possible :
The door was wide open .
The championship is still wide open (= anyone could win) .
She had a fear of wide-open spaces .
He stood with his legs wide apart .
In a few seconds she was wide awake .
Open your mouth wide .
•
IDIOMS
see cast verb , far adverb
■ noun
( sport ) a ball that has been bowled (= thrown) where the batsman or batter cannot reach it
••
SYNONYMS
wide / broad
These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
| wide ~ | broad ~ |
| street | shoulders |
| river | back |
| area | smile |
| range | range |
| variety | agreement |
| choice | outline |
Wide is the word most commonly used to talk about something that measures a long distance from one side to the other. Broad is more often used to talk about parts of the body. (Although wide can be used with
mouth
.) It is used in more formal or written language to describe the features of the countryside, etc:
a broad river
•
a broad stretch of meadowland.
Both wide and broad can be used to describe something that includes a large variety of different people or things:
a wide / broad range of products.
Broad , but not wide , can be used to mean 'general' or 'not detailed':
All of us are in broad agreement on this matter.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wīd spacious, extensive , wīde over a large area , of Germanic origin.