wide

The word “wide” means measuring a lot from side to side. In plain terms, describes something with a large side-to-side measurement, or a large range or scope.

“Wide” is pronounced wyd (/waɪd/ in IPA).

Here is “wide” used in a sentence: “The river is very wide at this point.”

Words with a similar meaning to “wide” include broad and thick.

The opposite of “wide” — its antonyms — are narrow, thin, skinny, long and scrawny.

Depending on how it is used, “wide” can be an adjective and an adverb.

The word “wide” comes from Old English. From Old English wīd ("wide, vast, distant"), from an ancient root meaning "to separate" — the same root that gives us the word divide.

“Wide” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Wide is an adjective describing how much something measures from side to side — a wide road. Width is the noun for that measurement itself — the width of the road. You use wide to describe the thing and width to name the distance: how wide is it asks about its width.

They overlap heavily and often swap freely — a wide river or a broad river. Wide stresses the actual side-to-side distance and any gap between edges — a wide gap. Broad leans toward flat, open expanse and figurative use — broad shoulders, broad agreement. Both mean far across.

The main opposite is narrow, meaning little distance from side to side, like a narrow lane. Depending on context, thin, tight, or slim also contrast with wide. When wide describes something fully open, such as wide eyes or a wide door, its opposite is closed or shut.