broad river: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Literary, descriptive, formal.
Quick answer
What does “broad river” mean?
A wide river.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wide river; a river with a considerable width from bank to bank.
A large, significant watercourse, often implying navigability, importance to a region, or a majestic natural feature. Can be used metaphorically to suggest something vast, unstoppable, or deeply ingrained.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use the phrase with similar frequency and meaning. It may appear slightly more often in British literary and geographical contexts.
Connotations
Shared connotations of natural beauty, scale, and sometimes historical significance.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties; more common in written description, poetry, and toponyms.
Grammar
How to Use “broad river” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] broad riverA broad river [VERB]sBroad river of [NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broad river” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The valley broads out where the river flows.
American English
- The river broadens significantly as it approaches the delta.
adverb
British English
- The water flowed broad and slow.
American English
- The valley opened up broad where the river ran.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism or logistics ("The broad river facilitates barge traffic.").
Academic
Used in geography, history, and environmental studies descriptions.
Everyday
Descriptive, used when emphasizing the visual scale of a river.
Technical
Hydrology/geomorphology: may be used descriptively but "channel width" is preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broad river”
- Using 'broad' for rivers that are merely long but not wide. Confusing with 'broad' meaning 'general' (e.g., 'broad discussion').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in literal meaning. However, 'broad river' is more literary and evocative, while 'wide river' is more neutral and common in everyday speech.
It is most appropriate for rivers notable for their width. A very long but narrow river like the Thames in London is not typically called 'broad'.
It is not a high-frequency collocation in daily conversation. It is more common in written English, particularly in descriptive, literary, or geographical contexts.
In British English: /brɔːd ˈrɪvə/. In American English: /brɔːd ˈrɪvɚ/. The 'oa' in 'broad' sounds like the 'aw' in 'law'.
A wide river.
Broad river is usually literary, descriptive, formal. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a common idiom source. Use literal meaning.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a road across a river—a 'broad' river would need a very long bridge.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A BROAD RIVER ("the broad river of history"), LIFE IS A JOURNEY ALONG A BROAD RIVER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'broad river' LEAST likely to be used?