Word forms: comparative broader, superlative broadest, plural broads
1. adjective
Something that is broad is wide.
His shoulders were broad and his waist narrow.
The hills rise green and sheer above the broad river.
...a broad expanse of green lawn.
Synonyms: wide, large, ample, generous More Synonyms of broad
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A broad smile is one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused.
He greeted them with a wave and a broad smile.
broadlyadverb
Charles grinned broadly.
Synonyms: widely, greatly, hugely, vastly More Synonyms of broad
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use broad to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people.
A broad range of issues was discussed.
...a broad coalition of workers, peasants, students and middle class professionals.
Synonyms: full, general, comprehensive, complete More Synonyms of broad
broadlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
This gives children a more broadly based education.
Synonyms: generally, commonly, widely, universally More Synonyms of broad
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use broad to describe a word or meaning which covers or refers to a wide range of different things.
The term Wissenschaft has a much broader meaning than the English word 'science'.
...restructuring in the broad sense of the word.
broadlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
We define education very broadly.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use broad to describe a feeling or opinion that is shared by many people, or by people of many different kinds.
The agreement won broad support in the U.S. Congress.
...a film with broad appeal.
Synonyms: universal, general, common, wide More Synonyms of broad
broadlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The new law has been broadly welcomed by road safety organisations.
6. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A broad description or idea is general rather than detailed.
These documents provided a broad outline of the Society's development.
We have discussed in broad terms the course of action appropriate at each stage.
Synonyms: general, loose, vague, approximate More Synonyms of broad
broadlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
There are, broadly speaking, three ways in which this is done.
Broadly, it makes connections between ideas about healing and how they link to plants.
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A broad hint is a very obvious hint.
They've been giving broad hints about what to expect.
Synonyms: unsubtle, clear, straightforward, bold More Synonyms of broad
broadlyadverb
He hinted broadly that he would like to come.
Synonyms: blatantly, unsubtly, clearly, overtly More Synonyms of broad
8. adjective
A broad accent is strong and noticeable.
...a Briton who spoke in a broad Yorkshire accent.
9. countable noun
Some people refer to women as broads. This use could cause offence.
[US, informal]
10. See also broadly
11. in broad daylight
More Synonyms of broad
broad in British English
(brɔːd)
adjective
1.
having relatively great breadth or width
2.
of vast extent; spacious
a broad plain
3. (postpositive)
from one side to the other
four miles broad
4.
of great scope or potential
that invention had broad applications
5.
not detailed; general
broad plans
6.
clear and open; full (esp in the phrase broad daylight)
7.
obvious or plain
broad hints
8.
liberal; tolerant
a broad political stance
9.
widely spread; extensive
broad support
10.
outspoken or bold
a broad manner
11.
vulgar; coarse; indecent
a broad joke
12.
unrestrained; free
broad laughter
13.
(of a dialect or pronunciation) consisting of a large number of speech sounds characteristic of a particular geographicalarea
a broad Yorkshire accent
14. finance
denoting an assessment of liquidity as including notes and coin in circulation with the public, banks' till money and balances, most private-sector bank deposits, and sterling bank-deposit certificates
broad money
Compare narrow (sense 7)
15. broad a
16. as broad as it is long
noun
17.
the broad part of something
18. slang, mainly US and Canadian, mainly sometimes offensive
a.
a woman
b.
a prostitute
19. British dialect
a river spreading over a lowland
See also Broads
20. East Anglia dialect
a shallow lake
21.
a wood-turning tool used for shaping the insides and bottoms of cylinders
adverb
22.
widely or fully
broad awake
Derived forms
broadly (ˈbroadly)
adverb
broadness (ˈbroadness)
noun
Word origin
Old English brād; related to Old Norse breithr, Old Frisian brēd, Old High German breit, Gothic braiths
Broad in British English
(brɔːd)
noun
Stuart (Christopher John). born 1986, English cricketer; he has taken over 400 test match wickets
broad in American English
(brɔd)
adjective
1.
of large extent from side to side; wide
2.
having great extent or expanse; spacious
broad prairies
3.
extending all about; clear; open; full
broad daylight
4.
easy to understand; not subtle; obvious
a broad hint
5.
strongly marked
said of dialects or accents
6.
coarse or ribald
a broad joke
7.
tolerant; liberal
to take a broad view of a matter
8.
wide in range; not limited
a broad variety, a broad education
9.
main or general; not detailed
in broad outline
10. Phonetics
pronounced with the tongue held low and flat in the mouth; open, esp. as the ( (ɑ) ) of father
adverb
11.
in a broad manner; widely
noun
12. Slang
a woman
sometimes considered offensive
SYNONYMY NOTE: broad, wide both are applied to extent from side to side of surfaces having height or length,, wide being preferred when the distance between limits is stressed [two feet wide, a wide aperture], and broad, when the full extent of surface is considered [broad hips, broad plains]; deep, in this connection, refers to extent backward, as from the front, an opening, etc.[a deep lot, a deep cave]
OPPOSITE: narrow
Derived forms
broadly (ˈbroadly)
adverb
broadness (ˈbroadness)
noun
Word origin
ME brod < OE brad; akin to Ger breit
More idioms containing
broad
do something in broad daylight
a broad church
in broad strokes
Examples of 'broad' in a sentence
broad
What about the broader congestion costs of immigration?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The broad outlines of this travesty of responsible policing were already known.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet more investment has broad political support.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The problem is what happens when broad daylight comes into the equation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You have to be very careful to get a really broad range of views.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The range that cats can hear is much broader than ours.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It has such a broad appeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And when he came to the broad river, he took off his coat and swam.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Quarter the potatoes and carefully peel off the skin from the larger broad beans, then add all of the veg to the dressing.
The Sun (2016)
It will appeal to a broader audience.
The Sun (2008)
Which are the best broad beans for sowing in the autumn?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We sketch the broad outlines of the evolution of this system.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
It was nice to have the broader range.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is broad agreement as to why commodity prices are rising.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Remember this was all happening in broad daylight.
The Sun (2007)
Other industrial nations provide a much broader array of services.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
You could hope for something as broad as feeling happier in the future.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
We are into education in the broadest sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We also moved on from the facts about specific cases to talk about broader issues of injustice.
Christianity Today (2000)
That is the broad river near its urban estuary.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
On that disc the musical palette was broad and bold.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They have broad shoulders and wide chests, but no lumps on them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But whether there are broad, structurally different stages is less clear.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
The League still enjoyed broad popular support.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
Broad and shallow, each was set above a charcoal fire in a pit.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
Sometimes there were broad green bands, extremely bright though pale.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
She is currently in a hospital setting in a high-risk delivery suite in a broad and wide range of skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was all delivered in a broad West Country accent.
John Cornwell Seminary Boy (2006)
Word lists with
broad
tool
In other languages
broad
British English: broad /brɔːd/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is broad is wide.
His shoulders were broad.
American English: broad
Arabic: واسِع
Brazilian Portuguese: amplo
Chinese: 宽阔的
Croatian: širok
Czech: široký
Danish: bred
Dutch: breed
European Spanish: ancho amplio
Finnish: leveä
French: large
German: breit
Greek: πλατύς
Italian: ampio
Japanese: 広い
Korean: 폭이 넓은
Norwegian: bred
Polish: obszerny
European Portuguese: amplo
Romanian: larg
Russian: широкий
Latin American Spanish: ancho
Swedish: bred
Thai: กว้าง
Turkish: geniş yayvan
Ukrainian: широкий
Vietnamese: rộng
Chinese translation of 'broad'
broad
(brɔːd)
adj
[street, shoulders]宽(寬)的 (kuān de)
[smile]明显(顯)的 (míngxiǎn de)
[range]广(廣)泛的 (guǎngfàn de)
(= general)
[outlines, distinction etc]概略的 (gàilüè de)
[sense]广(廣)义(義)的 (guǎngyì de)
[accent]浓(濃)重的 (nóngzhòng de)
n(c)
(US, inf, = woman) 女人 (nǚrén) (个(個), gè)
in broad daylight光天化日之下 (guāng tiān huà rì zhī xià)
a broad hint明显(顯)的暗示 (míngxiǎn de ànshì) (次, cì)
B-road
(ˈbiːrəud) (Brit)
n(c)
辅(輔)路 (fǔlù)
All related terms of 'broad'
B-road
A B-road is a minor road.
broad a
of or relating to a type of pronunciation transcription in which symbols correspond approximately to phonemes without taking account of allophonic variations
broad arrow
a mark shaped like a broad arrowhead designating British government property and formerly used on prison clothing
broad-based
comprehensive and inclusive
broad bean
Broad beans are flat round beans that are light green in colour and are eaten as a vegetable.
broad-brush
A broad-brush approach , strategy , or solution deals with a problem in a general way rather than concentrating on details .
broad gauge
a railway track with a greater distance between the lines than the standard gauge of 56 1 ⁄ 2 inches (about 1.44 metres ) used now by most mainline railway systems
broad jump
an exercise and athletic contest in which competitors try to jump the farthest distance possible from a standing start from a fixed board or mark
broad seal
the official seal of a nation and its government
broad theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
broad trend
A trend is a change or development towards something new or different.
broad view
Your view of a particular subject is the way that you understand and think about it.
broad-brimmed
(of a hat ) having a broad brim
Broad Church
You can refer to an organization, group, or area of activity as a broad church when it includes a wide range of opinions, beliefs , or styles .
broad-leaved
denoting trees other than conifers , most of which have broad rather than needle-shaped leaves
broad-minded
If you describe someone as broad-minded , you approve of them because they are willing to accept types of behaviour which other people consider immoral .
broad audience
The audience of a writer or artist is the people who read their books or look at their work.
broad-spectrum
effective against a wide variety of diseases or microorganisms
a broad church
an organization, group or area of activity that includes a wide range of opinions , beliefs or styles
broad definition
A definition is a statement giving the meaning of a word or expression, especially in a dictionary .
broad-shouldered
having broad shoulders
in broad daylight
If you say that a crime is committed in broad daylight , you are expressing your surprise that it is done during the day when people can see it, rather than at night .
in broad strokes
in general terms rather than in detail
running broad jump
See long jump
horse bean
an erect annual Eurasian bean plant, Vicia faba , cultivated for its large edible flattened seeds, used as a vegetable
M3c
the amount of money in circulation given by M3 plus foreign currency bank deposits
long jumper
an athlete who does the long jump
as broad as it is long
amounting to the same thing; without advantage either way
do something in broad daylight
to do something illegal or bad openly in the daytime , when people can see it. This expression is often used to emphasize behaviour that is surprising or shocking .
long jump
The long jump is an athletics contest which involves jumping as far as you can from a marker which you run up to.
pheon
a heraldic symbol in the form of an arrow that has two spikes which are serrated along the inner edge
1 (adjective)
Definition
having great breadth or width
His shoulders were broad and his waist narrow.
Synonyms
wide
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels and holiday homes.
large
The gang finally left with a large amount of cash and jewellery.
ample
He was asleep with his arms crossed on his ample stomach.
generous
a room with a generous amount of storage space
expansive
an expansive grassy play area
2 (adjective)
Definition
of vast extent
a broad expanse of lawn
Synonyms
large
In a large room about a dozen children are sitting on the carpet.
huge
Several painters were working on a huge piece of canvas.
comfortable
Dress in loose comfortable clothes that do not make you feel restricted.
vast
farmers who own vast stretches of land
extensive
This 18th-century manor house is set in extensive grounds.
ample
spacious
The house has a spacious kitchen and dining area.
expansive
roomy
The car is roomy.
voluminous
She was swathed in a voluminous cloak.
capacious
She crammed the lot into her capacious handbag.
uncrowded
commodious
Big terraces of commodious houses went up.
beamy
sizable or sizeable
Opposites
close,
limited
,
tight
,
narrow
,
restricted
,
confined
,
cramped
,
meagre
,
constricted
3 (adjective)
Definition
extensive
A broad range of issues was discussed.
Synonyms
full
They can now publish a full list of candidates.
general
His firm took over general maintenance of the park last summer.
comprehensive
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
complete
wide
global
a global vision of contemporary society
catholic
He was a man of catholic tastes, enjoying music and fine arts of all kinds.
sweeping
sweeping economic reforms
extensive
The story generated extensive comment on social media.
wide-ranging
umbrella
thorough
We are making a thorough investigation.
unlimited
You'll also have unlimited access to the swimming pool.
inclusive
an inclusive price of £32.90
far-reaching
exhaustive
The author's treatment of the subject is exhaustive.
all-inclusive
all-embracing
overarching
encyclopedic
He has an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music.
4 (adjective)
a film with broad appeal
Synonyms
universal
proposals for universal health care
general
Contrary to general opinion, these plants do not need acidic soil.
common
It is common practice for people to invest in holiday homes here.
wide
The case has attracted wide publicity.
sweeping
the long sweeping curve of Rio's Guanabara Bay
worldwide
Doctors fear a worldwide epidemic of this disease.
widespread
There is widespread support for the proposals.
Food shortages are widespread.
wide-ranging
a package of wide-ranging economic reforms
far-reaching
far-reaching reforms on human rights
5 (adjective)
Definition
not detailed
a broad outline of the Society's development
Synonyms
general
chemicals called by the general description `flavour enhancer'
loose
We came to some sort of loose arrangement before he went home.
vague
His answer was deliberately vague.
approximate
The times are approximate only.
indefinite
The trial was adjourned for an indefinite period.
ill-defined
inexact
nonspecific
unspecific
undetailed
6 (adjective)
a broad Yorkshire accent
Synonyms
strong
heavy
Put the sugar and water in a heavy pan and heat slowly.
thick
He answered questions in a thick accent.
pronounced
Most of the exhibition has a pronounced Scottish theme.
noticeable
7 (adjective)
Definition
clear and open
I was robbed in broad daylight.
Synonyms
clear
All exits must be kept clear in case of fire.
open
their open dislike of each other
full
Full details will be sent to you.
plain
It was plain to me that he was lying.
8 (adjective)
Definition
obvious
They've been giving broad hints about what to expect.
Synonyms
unsubtle
clear
It was a clear case of mistaken identity.
straightforward
bold
It's a big book with bold print.
obvious
It's obvious that he doesn't like me.
blatant
blatant elitism
overt
Although there is no overt hostility, the two groups do not mix much.
undisguised
He looked down at Bauer in undisguised disgust.
unconcealed
9 (adjective)
Definition
vulgar or coarse
Use wit rather than broad humour.
Synonyms
vulgar
a TV show well known for its vulgar jokes
blue
blue movies
dirty
He laughed at their dirty jokes.
gross
That's a disgusting thing to say – you're so gross!
crude
a crude sense of humour
rude
He made a rude gesture with his finger.
naughty
a comedy routine crammed with naughty innuendo
coarse
He has a very coarse sense of humour.
indecent
She accused him of making indecent suggestions.
improper
The politicians denied any improper behaviour.
suggestive
An employee claimed he made suggestive remarks.
risqué
a cheeky comment or a risqué suggestion
boorish
the boorish behaviour of some players
uncouth
that oafish, uncouth person
unrefined
an unrefined boor
ribald
her ribald comments about a guest's body language
indelicate
She could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
near the knuckle (informal)
indecorous
unmannerly
10 (adjective)
Synonyms
tolerant
They need to be tolerant of different points of view.
open
the public's open and generous response to the appeal
liberal
She is known to have liberal views on abortion and contraception.
progressive
The children go to a progressive school.
open-minded
I have always been open-minded about politics.
permissive
Her parents are permissive and set few clear boundaries.
unbiased
The researchers were expected to be unbiased.
broad-minded
You'll find me more broad-minded than you think.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ample
Definition
large
He was asleep with his arms crossed on his ample stomach.