wide

Think of a wide river stretching far across the land—that's what "wide" means. It describes something with a large distance from one side to the other. But "wide" is not just about physical space. You can have a wide range of opinions, meaning many different ones. A smile can be wide, showing a lot of happiness. And if someone has a wide imagination, they are full of creative ideas.

You might describe a wide-open field or the wide world waiting to be explored. Sometimes wide is used when talking about giving space. If you give someone a wide berth, you stay well away from them in a polite or careful way. You can also make a wide turn or take a wide path around a traffic jam. That is wide in action.

The word "wide" describes something that measures a large distance from one side to the other. This can be literal, like a wide road stretching across the countryside: "The highway was so wide it felt like flying." Or think of the wide ocean, which seems endless as it spreads out in front of you.

However, wide also goes beyond physical size. It is often used figuratively to describe range or variety. A wide range of choices means you have many options. A wide spectrum of colors includes many different shades. Someone with a wide vocabulary knows and uses many words.

Wide can also suggest openness and plenty of space. To give someone a wide berth is to leave a lot of room between you and them, either out of caution or respect. A wide-eyed look suggests surprise, wonder, or innocence. And if you have a wide margin for error, it means you have room to make mistakes without failing.

Historically, wide comes from Old English and has kept the same basic sense of breadth and openness over time. So whether it describes physical size, the range of possibilities, or the space you give someone, wide carries the idea of something broad, open, or spread out.