Words / B2

BRORDN/ˈbrɔːdn/

To broaden is to make something wider in range or extent: broaden your knowledge, broaden the appeal. Widen is close for physical width and some abstract uses; expand is a cousin; enlarge is more for size of an object. In speech, make it wider / learn more is enough. Broaden your horizons is a set phrase. Do not use broaden for turning up the volume.

Meaning

To make something wider in range or extent (broaden your knowledge).

Examples

• “Travel will broaden your knowledge of the world.”
• “The new modules broaden the course without dropping the core language hours.”
• “Volunteering broadened her sense of what “local” meant, beyond her own postcode.”

Good to know

Make wider in range. broaden your knowledge / horizons. Everyday: widen / expand. Contrast: enlarge (physical size). Not volume.

Near in meaning

widen

New