adj
wide
wyd
adj
1
Measuring a lot from side to side.
"The river is very wide at this point."
"They live on a wide, tree-lined street."
2
Covering a large range or scope.
"The course gives a wide overview of European history."
"She has wide experience in several industries."
adv
1
So as to leave a large gap or opening.
"Open the door wide so we can carry the sofa through."
"He threw the window wide open."
How to Use Wide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something with a large side-to-side measurement, or a large range or scope.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wide range
wide open
wide margin
Word Forms
wider comparative, more wide comparative, wider comparative, wides plural, widest superlative, most wide superlative, widest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “wide”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The river is very _____ at this point.
Etymology
From Old English wīd ("wide, vast, distant"), from an ancient root meaning "to separate" — the same root that gives us the word divide.