make it wider

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make it wider" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the action of increasing the width of an object or space. Example: "To improve the layout of the room, we need to make it wider by moving the furniture around."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

As a result, far from narrowing that democratic deficit, the European convention may well make it wider.

The Economist

"It's because John Boyd-CarpenTory a transportsport minister in the 1950s, said it was the most important road scheme in Britain and he pinched a bit of Hyde Park to make it wider.

The Guardian

It's trying to make it wider known that generally your glass of milk has probably come from a cow that may never have seen the outdoors, and been fed on soy that's been imported half way round the world from land that was once rich biodiverse cerrado in Brazil and has now been planted with GM soy and covered in weedkiller to allow it to grow".

The Guardian

The Rainbow Lake Bridge in Pittsgrove Township was rebuilt after it was washed out by the April 2007 Nor'easter while the Maurice River bridge was reconstructed to make it wider and higher.

Wikipedia

You can rotate it, make it wider and longer.

WikiHow

This will add length to the hat, rather than continuing to make it wider and wider.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"If you touch it, you say, 'Is that steel?' A typical tailor will make it wide, to make sure it's safe.

The New Yorker

Let's try to open things up — let's make it wide!" Naudan seems obsessed with the idea of turning the hidebound image of the traditional auction house on its head.

The New York Times

Parts of the picture were copied twice to make it wide enough.

European Transport Research Review

Ridge filters and range modulators are used in proton therapy to modify the beam in order to spread out the Bragg peak, and make it wide enough so that the high dose distribution can cover the treatment targets.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

defer.add img); You can make it wide and crenelated.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to modify a physical object, be specific about the units of measurement. For example, instead of saying "make it wider", say "make it 10 centimeters wider".

Common error

Avoid using "make it wider" when referring to abstract concepts like knowledge or understanding. Opt for alternatives like "expand your knowledge" or "broaden your understanding" for more appropriate phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it wider" functions primarily as an imperative, giving a direct instruction to increase the width of something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase is used in instructive contexts. It's a common way to express a need for enlargement in a specific dimension.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

30%

News & Media

27%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

9%

Encyclopedias

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make it wider" is a grammatically correct and usable imperative phrase instructing someone to increase the width of something. Ludwig AI confirms its use across diverse sources, particularly Wiki and News & Media. While generally informal, its register adapts to the context. For more formal or abstract scenarios, consider alternatives like "broaden it" or "expand it". Remember to be specific with measurements when instructing physical modifications. Overall, "make it wider" is a straightforward instruction with clear implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broaden it

This alternative is more concise, employing a single verb to convey the action of widening.

expand it

Similar to 'broaden it', this option uses a different verb suggesting enlargement in all dimensions, not just width.

increase its width

This is a more formal and descriptive alternative, explicitly mentioning 'width'.

widen the scope

This shifts the focus to the abstract concept of 'scope' rather than physical width.

make it more expansive

This uses a more descriptive adjective, suggesting a greater sense of openness or scale.

enlarge it horizontally

This alternative specifies the direction of the enlargement, adding precision.

stretch it out

Suggests physical manipulation to increase width, implying a flexible material.

give it more breadth

Employs a more figurative term, 'breadth', suggesting comprehensiveness or range.

extend it laterally

Uses more technical terminology, 'laterally', for a formal context.

open it up

This phrase can sometimes replace the requested one, but it's highly dependent on the context.

FAQs

How can I use "make it wider" in a sentence?

You can use "make it wider" when instructing someone to increase the width of something. For example, "If the doorway is too narrow, you'll need to make it wider".

What's a more formal way to say "make it wider"?

A more formal alternative to "make it wider" is to say "increase its width". For example, "We need to increase its width to accommodate the new equipment".

What can I say instead of "make it wider" when referring to abstract concepts?

When referring to abstract concepts, use alternatives like "broaden it" or "expand it". For example, "We need to broaden our understanding of the issue".

Is "make it wider" grammatically correct?

Yes, "make it wider" is grammatically correct. It's an imperative phrase instructing someone to increase the width of something.