ˈwīd ə n verb
( widened ; widened ; widening -d( ə )niŋ ; widens )
Etymology: wide (I) + -en
transitive verb
1. : to increase the width of : broaden
widen a road
widen the breach between the former friends
2. : to enlarge the scope or extend the range of : expand
widening … the domain of freedom — Stephen Duggan
intransitive verb
1. : to grow or become wide or wider
a river widening at a bend
my nostrils widen to the smell — Amy Lowell
2. : to increase in extent or scope
his interests widened in college
a vocabulary that widened from use — W.A.White