wide
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
Having a great distance from one side to the other; broad.
Extensive in range or scope; fully open or expanded; far from a target or point.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective, but also functions as an adverb. The adverbial form is identical to the adjective form, unlike many other adjectives (e.g., 'widely' is also an adverb but with a different, more figurative meaning).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The adjective and adverb are used identically. Spelling in compounds: BrE 'wide-ranging', AmE also 'wide-ranging' (no difference).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] + wide + enough + to-infinitive[measure] + number + unit + widewide + of + the + mark/targetVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wide of the mark”
- “give someone/something a wide berth”
- “cast a wide net”
- “the wide world”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market reach, product range, or profit margins (e.g., 'wide market penetration', 'wide profit margins').
Academic
Describes scope of research, range of data, or breadth of knowledge (e.g., 'a wide sample', 'wide reading').
Everyday
Describes physical spaces, openings, or ranges of choice (e.g., 'a wide road', 'wide choice of films').
Technical
In sports, a ball that misses the target; in photography/optics, angle of lens (wide-angle).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare as a standalone verb; found in compounds like 'widen')
American English
- (Rare as a standalone verb; found in compounds like 'widen')
adverb
British English
- He opened the window wide to let in the breeze.
- The shot went wide and missed the goal completely.
American English
- Spread your arms wide for the measurement.
- Her estimate was wide of the actual cost.
adjective
British English
- The canal is surprisingly wide at this point.
- She has a wide circle of friends from university.
American English
- The highway is four lanes wide here.
- He kept a wide distance from the controversial topic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The table is very wide.
- She has wide, blue eyes.
- The river is too wide to swim across.
- We offer a wide selection of organic vegetables.
- The door was left wide open overnight.
- His interests are surprisingly wide for a teenager.
- The policy received wide support from across the political spectrum.
- The ball sailed wide of the batsman and went for four byes.
- There is a wide disparity in incomes between the regions.
- The investigation cast its net wide, interviewing hundreds of witnesses.
- His interpretation of the data was deemed unacceptably wide of the mark by peer reviewers.
- The wide-angle lens captured the entire majestic panorama.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'wide' smile – your mouth stretches from side to side.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE IS WIDTH (e.g., 'wide knowledge', 'wide experience').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'widely' (широко). 'Wide' is an adjective/adverb of state, 'widely' is an adverb of manner/degree. E.g., 'The door is wide open' (дверь распахнута настежь) vs. 'It is widely known' (это широко известно).
- Avoid using 'wide' to translate 'большой' in contexts of size/scale unless referring specifically to breadth.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'widely' instead of 'wide' after verbs of perception (e.g., 'Open your eyes wide' NOT 'widely').
- Using 'wide' as an adverb where '-ly' is required for figurative meaning (e.g., 'He travels widely' NOT 'He travels wide').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'wide' used as an adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often interchangeable, but 'broad' is more formal and often used for abstract nouns (broad agreement, broad shoulders), while 'wide' is more common for physical, measurable spaces and is more neutral.
Not in modern standard usage as a standalone verb. The related verb is 'widen'. 'Wide' appears as part of phrasal verbs (e.g., 'wide awake') or compounds.
Use 'wide' for literal, physical breadth or as an adverb after specific verbs (open, spread). Use 'widely' for figurative meanings involving degree or distribution (widely available, widely believed).
It means incorrect, inaccurate, or not close to being correct or true. It originates from archery or shooting, where a shot misses the target.