broad
brawd
Broad (adj) means Wide, either physically or in scope or range. Example: “He has broad shoulders.”
adj
1
Wide, either physically or in scope or range.
"He has broad shoulders."
"The report gives a broad overview of the market."
"The river is broad here, so we crossed by the bridge."
2
General rather than detailed or specific.
"In broad terms, the plan is sound."
"I only have a broad idea of how the machine works."
"The manager gave us a broad outline before the details were agreed."
How to use broad
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWide, whether describing physical width or the scope of an idea, plan, or description.
Common pairings
broad range
broad shoulders
broad daylight
in broad terms
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Word forms
- Plural
- broads
- Comparative
- broader
- Superlative
- broadest
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He has _____ shoulders.
Etymology
From Old English brad, meaning wide or spacious — an ancient Germanic word found in similar forms across many related languages.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for broad
See all rhymes for broad →Frequently asked questions
What does “broad” mean?
The word “broad” means wide, either physically or in scope or range. In plain terms, wide, whether describing physical width or the scope of an idea, plan, or description.
How do you pronounce “broad”?
“Broad” is pronounced brawd (/bɹɔːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “broad” in a sentence?
Here is “broad” used in a sentence: “He has broad shoulders.”
What is the opposite of “broad”?
The opposite of “broad” — its antonyms — are thin, narrow, skinny, all-encompassing and slender.
What part of speech is “broad”?
“Broad” is an adjective.
Where does the word “broad” come from?
The word “broad” comes from Old English. From Old English brad, meaning wide or spacious — an ancient Germanic word found in similar forms across many related languages.
Is “broad” a common word?
“Broad” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “broad” have?
“Broad” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wide, either physically or in scope or range.
What is the difference between 'broad' and 'wide'?
They overlap heavily and often swap freely. 'Wide' usually stresses the distance from one side to the other — a wide road, a wide gap. 'Broad' stresses full extent across a surface or, figuratively, in scope — broad shoulders, a broad range of topics. 'Broad' leans more naturally into abstract, general meanings.
Can 'broad' describe ideas as well as objects?
Yes. Beyond physical width, 'broad' often describes scope or range — a broad topic, broad agreement, a broad selection. Used this way it means wide-ranging or general rather than narrow and specific. This figurative sense is one of the most common ways the word appears in everyday speech.
What is the opposite of 'broad'?
The usual opposite is 'narrow.' For a physical object, narrow means small from side to side; for scope, it means limited or specific. A broad avenue becomes a narrow lane; broad interests become narrow ones. Depending on context, 'limited' or 'restricted' can also work as opposites of the figurative sense.
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