widened; widening
ˈwīd-niŋ 
ˈwī-dᵊn-iŋ
: to increase the width, scope, or extent of
widen a road
widen an investigation
: to become wide or wider
a widening gap
Examples of widen in a Sentence
The city is going to widen the road.
They plan to widen the investigation.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
They went swimming at a spot where the river widens.
The scope of the investigation has widened.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a surprise move, China — long criticized for its human rights record — signed the declaration, further widening the distance between America and the rest in the tussle for AI supremacy.
—
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
In 1970, as new housing developments were planned across the Santa Monica Mountains, homeowner associations objected to a city master plan that would widen and extend existing canyon roads linking Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
My eyes widened at this: One book that was never banned was George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, despite the glaring parallels with the Assad regime’s totalitarian security apparatus.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
Fourth quarter earnings season has only added to those concerns, and widened the gaps among the seven former leaders.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for widen 
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Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
In 1970, as new housing developments were planned across the Santa Monica Mountains, homeowner associations objected to a city master plan that would widen and extend existing canyon roads linking Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
My eyes widened at this: One book that was never banned was George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, despite the glaring parallels with the Assad regime’s totalitarian security apparatus.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
Fourth quarter earnings season has only added to those concerns, and widened the gaps among the seven former leaders.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for widen
Dictionary Entries Near widen
Cite this Entry
“Widen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widen. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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