Words / B2

WYDL-ee/ˈwaɪdli/

Widely means by many people or in many places, or to a large degree: widely accepted; widely available. Broadly is close; everywhere is looser. The finding is not widely accepted until repeated. Mix-up: wide is the adjective (already in the dictionary). Do not write widely for “open your stance” (that is widen).

Meaning

By many people or in many places; also to a large degree.

Examples

• “The finding is not widely accepted until a second lab repeats it.”
• “The scheme is widely available in Year 12, which is the access sense.”

Good to know

widely accepted / known / available; vary widely. Adjective: wide. Close: broadly. Methods and news. By many, not “a wide gap”.

Near in meaning

broadly

New