Standard Lemma guide

widely

adv · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈwaɪdli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪdli
  • CMU ARPABET: W AY1 D L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a wide manner; across a wide area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I'm widely travelled.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Commonly; generally; to a great degree.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

to or over a great extent or range; far

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • wandered wide through many lands
  • he traveled widely

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wide

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

to a great degree

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her work is widely known

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

so as to leave much space or distance between

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • widely separated

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to wide + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

53 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: шыро́ка (šyróka) — commonly, generally
  • Bulgarian: широко (široko) — commonly, generally
  • Czech: široce — commonly, generally
  • Czech: široko — commonly, generally
  • Esperanto: vaste — commonly, generally
  • Finnish: laajalti — commonly, generally
  • French: largement — commonly, generally
  • French: généralement — commonly, generally
  • French: fréquemment — commonly, generally
  • French: communément — commonly, generally
  • German: breit — commonly, generally
  • Italian: comunemente — commonly, generally
  • Italian: generalmente — commonly, generally
  • Italian: diffusamente — commonly, generally
  • Italian: universalmente — commonly, generally
  • Italian: popolarmente — commonly, generally
  • Polish: szeroko — commonly, generally
  • Portuguese: amplamente — commonly, generally
  • Russian: широко́ (širokó) — commonly, generally
  • Scottish Gaelic: san fharsaingeachd — commonly, generally
  • Serbo-Croatian: широко — commonly, generally
  • Serbo-Croatian: široko — commonly, generally
  • Slovak: široko — commonly, generally
  • Slovene: široko — commonly, generally
  • Spanish: comúnmente — commonly, generally
  • Spanish: generalmente — commonly, generally
  • Spanish: frecuentemente — commonly, generally
  • Swedish: allmänt — commonly, generally
  • Tamil: பரவலாக (paravalāka) — commonly, generally
  • Telugu: విస్తృతంగా (vistr̥taṅgā) — commonly, generally
  • Ukrainian: ши́роко (šýroko) — commonly, generally
  • Belarusian: далёка (daljóka) — separated by a large distance
  • Bulgarian: дале́ч (daléč) — separated by a large distance
  • Bulgarian: дале́че (daléče) — separated by a large distance
  • Czech: daleko — separated by a large distance
  • Finnish: suuresti — separated by a large distance
  • French: largement — separated by a large distance
  • French: grandement — separated by a large distance
  • German: entfernt — separated by a large distance
  • Italian: distantemente — separated by a large distance
  • Italian: estesamente — separated by a large distance
  • Macedonian: далеку (daleku) — separated by a large distance
  • Polish: daleko — separated by a large distance
  • Portuguese: distantemente — separated by a large distance
  • Russian: далеко́ (dalekó) — separated by a large distance
  • Serbo-Croatian: далеко — separated by a large distance
  • Serbo-Croatian: daleko — separated by a large distance
  • Slovak: ďaleko — separated by a large distance
  • Slovene: daleč — separated by a large distance
  • Spanish: extensamente — separated by a large distance
  • Spanish: ampliamente — separated by a large distance
  • Swedish: vitt — separated by a large distance
  • Ukrainian: дале́ко (daléko) — separated by a large distance
Real reading context

widely in complete knowledge articles