widespread
wyd-SPREHD
Widespread (adj) means Found or happening over a large area or among many people. Example: “Mobile phones are now so widespread that most children know how to use one.”
adj
1
Found or happening over a large area or among many people.
"Mobile phones are now so widespread that most children know how to use one."
"There was widespread flooding across the region."
"The proposal met with widespread opposition."
How to use widespread
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAffecting or found in many places, or believed/done by many people.
Common pairings
widespread damage
widespread support
widespread use
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more widespread, widerspread
- Superlative
- most widespread, widestspread
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mobile phones are now so _____ that most children know how to use one.
Etymology
From wide + spread, describing something spread out over a broad area.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for widespread
See all rhymes for widespread →Frequently asked questions
What does “widespread” mean?
The word “widespread” means found or happening over a large area or among many people. In plain terms, affecting or found in many places, or believed/done by many people.
How do you pronounce “widespread”?
“Widespread” is pronounced wyd-SPREHD (/ˌwaɪdˈspɹɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “widespread” in a sentence?
Here is “widespread” used in a sentence: “There was widespread flooding across the region.”
What is another word for “widespread”?
Words with a similar meaning to “widespread” include extensive, pervasive, prevalent, universal, ubiquitous and common.
What is the opposite of “widespread”?
The opposite of “widespread” — its antonyms — are limited, contained, endemic, few and far between and focused.
What part of speech is “widespread”?
“Widespread” is an adjective.
Is “widespread” a common word?
“Widespread” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "widespread" and "common"?
"Widespread" stresses that something is found or happening over a large area or among many people, emphasising geographic or social reach. "Common" stresses that something happens often or is ordinary, so something can be common in one place without being widespread across many places.
When should you use "widespread" instead of "prevalent"?
Use "widespread" to highlight broad distribution across places or groups, as in widespread flooding or widespread support. Use "prevalent" to emphasise that something is dominant or especially frequent within a particular setting, which focuses on how often it occurs rather than how far it reaches.
Is "widespread" one word or two, and can it be hyphenated?
"Widespread" is written as a single word in modern standard English and is not normally hyphenated. It functions as an adjective and typically comes before a noun, as in "widespread damage," or after a linking verb, as in "the problem became widespread."
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