the widest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the widest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the breadth or extent of something in relation to others. Example: "This is the widest river in the country, making it a significant landmark."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Measure across your jaw line from the widest point to the widest point.

WikiHow

Schools cast the widest net.

The New York Times - Sports

It deserves the widest dissemination.

The Economist

The widest gap involves age.

The Economist

Carrefour has spread itself the widest.

The Economist

Concessionaires have the widest smiles in years.

The New Yorker

It's the widest fairway in golf.

Independent

American banks give Cuba the widest berth.

The Economist

Adam needs the widest berth.

The New York Times

Give these the widest possible berth.

The New York Times

"The smallest project has the widest attention".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the widest", ensure you are comparing multiple items or instances. It implies a superlative comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "the widest" when there is no comparative context. For instance, saying "This road is the widest" is incorrect if there are no other roads being compared. Instead, state, "This road is wide".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the widest" functions as a superlative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it possesses the greatest width compared to others. Ludwig AI's examples show it being used to describe physical dimensions, scope, and even emotional expressions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

17%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the widest" is a very common and grammatically correct superlative adjective phrase used to indicate the greatest extent or breadth of something. It appears frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a reliable phrase for highlighting maximum extent in comparative situations. When using it, ensure a comparative context exists to avoid misapplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the broadest

Replaces "widest" with a synonym emphasizing breadth or scope.

the largest

Substitutes "widest" with a term focusing on overall size or magnitude.

the most extensive

Uses a phrase that highlights the comprehensive or far-reaching nature.

the greatest breadth

Emphasizes the measurement of width.

the most expansive

Focuses on the idea of something spreading out or covering a large area.

the most comprehensive

Shifts the focus to completeness and thoroughness, rather than physical width.

the maximum width

Uses a more technical term referring to specific dimension measurement.

the utmost width

Highlights the highest degree of width.

the farthest reaching

Changes the perspective to how far something extends.

the most all-encompassing

Shifts the emphasis to inclusiveness and encompassing everything.

FAQs

How can I use "the widest" in a sentence?

Use "the widest" when you want to indicate that something has a greater extent from side to side compared to other things. For example, "This river has the widest span in the region".

What is a good alternative to "the widest"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "the broadest", "the largest", or "the most extensive" can be used.

Which is correct, "the widest" or "the wider"?

"The widest" is used to indicate the superlative degree, meaning the greatest width among all options. "The wider" is used for comparative degree, indicating that something is more wide than something else.

What's the difference between "the widest" and "the broadest"?

While both can be used to describe something with a large extent, "the widest" typically refers to physical width or distance, while "the broadest" can also refer to scope or range. For example, "the widest river" vs. "the broadest range of topics".