widen
/ˈwʌɪd(ə)n
/verb
Make or become wider: [with object]: we should widen the scope of our investigation [no object]: his grin widened the lane widened out into a small clearing...
- Asked about the move, his slow smile widens into a broad grin that crinkles the sun-wizened features of his face.
- Further south, and the Shannon takes on a different character as the river widens, and it flows through Lough Derg, its largest lake.
- There is barely room for two vehicles to pass at the moment and there is little scope for widening the pavement at that point.
Synonyms
broaden, make/become wider, open up, open out, spread, expand, extend, enlarge, stretch;
fatten, distend, dilate
increase, augment, add to, develop, boost, swell, supplement, amplify, enlarge, make larger/bigger/greater
Derivatives
widener
- London proceeded to lead the wideners to ultimate victory over the deepeners.
- The British were always wideners, viscerally opposed to all moves toward political union.
- The line of wideners cover a wide range of applications from lane construction to shoulder maintenance and back fill.