very wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a large width or extent, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The river was very wide, making it difficult to see the other side."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Very wide.

The Guardian - Sport

The spectrum is very wide.

The Economist

It's very wide open.

The New York Times - Sports

They're not very wide".

The New York Times - Travel

One very wide thing.

The Guardian - Music

"Belief can be a very wide concept".

The New Yorker

"He has a very wide appeal".

The New York Times

"He had very wide eyes".

The New York Times

"The appeal is very wide".

The New York Times - Arts

That's a very wide range of people".

The Guardian

I think the world is very wide.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very wide" to clearly and directly describe something with considerable width. Be mindful of the context; consider more descriptive alternatives if nuance is needed.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "very wide" as a generic descriptor. Instead, provide additional details or use more specific adjectives to create a clearer picture of what is being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very wide" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to describe their physical dimension or the extent of something abstract. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used in a wide array of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very wide" is a common and grammatically correct adjective phrase used to emphasize the extent of something's width. As Ludwig AI states, it is usable in written English to describe something that has a large width. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Science and Wiki contexts, indicating a generally neutral register. While simple, it effectively communicates breadth, but writers should consider more descriptive alternatives for greater nuance. Consider using "extremely broad", "quite expansive", or "considerably expansive" for a more refined expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely broad

Emphasizes the extent of width using a different adjective.

quite expansive

Emphasizes the largeness of the width using a different adjective.

exceptionally broad

Emphasizes the uncommon nature of the width by using the adverb exceptionally.

considerably expansive

Highlights the scale and scope of the width, introducing the idea of expansion.

unusually extended

Highlights the length of the width by using a past participle instead of an adjective.

remarkably extensive

Focuses on the reach and range of the width, suggesting it covers a large area.

significantly spacious

Shifts the focus to the amount of space the width creates, emphasizing comfort or capacity.

appreciably vast

Conveys a sense of immensity and grandeur in the width.

noticeably ample

Suggests a more than sufficient width, implying abundance.

impressively outspread

Highlights the way the width extends outward, emphasizing its visual impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "very wide" to describe physical objects (e.g., "The river was very wide") or abstract concepts (e.g., "The range of opinions was very wide").

What can I say instead of "very wide"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely broad", "quite expansive", or "considerably expansive" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "wide" or "very wide"?

Using "very wide" emphasizes the extent of the width. Whether it's better depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey. Sometimes "wide" alone is sufficient.

When is it appropriate to use "very wide" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to specifically highlight that something has a significant width. It works well in descriptive writing or technical contexts where precision is important.