broaden

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈbrɔdən/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To make or become wider in extent, scope, or range; to expand or enlarge.; To make or become physically wider or broader in dimension.; To extend or expand one's knowledge, experience, or perspective.; To make more inclusive or comprehensive; to extend the applicability of something.; To relax or make less restrictive, as in rules, criteria, or definitions.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: broadens Past: broadened Past part.: broadened Pres part.: broadening

Collocations

broaden one's horizonsbroaden one's mindbroaden the scopebroaden the basebroaden accessbroaden one's experience

Derivatives

broadbroadlybreadthbroadnessbroadening

Synonyms

widenexpandextendenlargediversify

Antonyms

narrowrestrictlimit

Commonly confused

widen
EN: 'Widen' often refers to physical width, while 'broaden' more commonly implies expanding scope, range, or variety.
breadth
EN: 'Breadth' is the noun form meaning width or range; 'broaden' is the verb meaning to make broader.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse the verb 'broaden' with the noun 'breadth'; note the different vowel and ending.

💬 Examples

  1. Traveling abroad helped to broaden her understanding of different cultures.

  2. The river broadens as it approaches the sea.

  3. Reading widely will broaden your intellectual horizons.

  4. The company decided to broaden its product line to include organic options.

  5. The university broadened its admission criteria to attract a more diverse student body.