grew wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has expanded or increased in width, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "As the river flowed, its banks grew wide, allowing for more wildlife to thrive in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Trish's eyes grew wide.

The New York Times

Her eyes grew wide.

The New Yorker

Mr. Evans's eyes grew wide.

The New York Times

Bowen's eyes grew wide.

The New Yorker

Texans linebacker Charlie Clemons's eyes grew wide.

The New York Times - Sports

He watched, and his eyes grew wide.

The New Yorker

It wasn't just the men whose eyes grew wide.

The New York Times - Food

It's like you disappeared!" Her eyes grew wide.

The New York Times - Magazine

McGregor smiled as his eyes grew wide as saucers.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

— Alexandria Krol, 5, grew wide-eyed as she walked in the darkness up to the strange-looking egg.

The New York Times

He recalled one time when North Korean officials grew wide-eyed on hearing that the South Korean presidential election was a real contest in which the leader was chosen by votes, and not behind closed doors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional reactions, use "grew wide" to illustrate surprise, shock, or awe. This provides a vivid image of the character's response.

Common error

While "grew wide" is acceptable in many situations, it can sound informal or cliché in very formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise or descriptive alternatives like "expanded significantly" or "increased substantially" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew wide" functions primarily as a descriptive verb phrase. It describes the manner in which something has increased in width or, more often, the reaction of someone's eyes, indicating surprise or shock. Ludwig AI confirms that "grew wide" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grew wide" is a common and grammatically sound phrase often used to describe an increase in width or, more figuratively, the widening of eyes in response to surprise or shock. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted in written English and particularly frequent in News & Media. While versatile, it is best used in neutral contexts and should be replaced with more formal alternatives like "expanded" or "increased" in academic settings. When depicting strong emotions, "grew wide" provides a vivid and effective way to illustrate a character's reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widened

A more concise synonym, directly implying an increase in width.

became broader

A more descriptive alternative, directly referencing breadth.

grew broader

A more descriptive alternative, directly referencing breadth.

expanded

Suggests a general increase in size or extent, not necessarily limited to width.

increased in width

A literal and straightforward alternative.

enlarged

Implies becoming larger in overall size.

spread out

Suggests an expansion across a surface or area.

stretched out

Implies an extension or lengthening in addition to widening.

opened up

Implies a broadening or unveiling.

distended

Suggests an abnormal or excessive widening, often due to internal pressure.

FAQs

How can I use "grew wide" in a sentence?

You can use "grew wide" to describe an increase in width or, more commonly, to depict someone's eyes widening in response to surprise, shock, or excitement. For example: "Her eyes "grew wide" when she heard the news."

What are some alternatives to "grew wide"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "widened", "expanded", or "became broader". For instance, if you're describing a river, "the river "widened"" might be suitable.

Is it correct to say "grew widely" instead of "grew wide"?

While "grew widely" is grammatically correct, it has a different meaning. "Grew widely" suggests something increased in distribution or prevalence, whereas "grew wide" implies an increase in physical width or, metaphorically, the widening of eyes. So, the correctness depends on the intended meaning.

What does it mean when someone's eyes "grew wide"?

When someone's eyes ""grew wide"", it usually indicates they are experiencing a strong emotion such as surprise, shock, fear, or intense interest. It's a physical manifestation of their reaction to something unexpected or significant.