was widened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was widened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that has been completed in the past, specifically referring to something that has been made wider. Example: "The road was widened to accommodate the increasing traffic flow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The beach was widened, levelled and cleared.

The Guardian - Film

It was widened and heightened when Clarke won.

The New York Times - Sports

The conduit was emptied and so the crater was widened in this late eruption stage.

Geomorphology

Today this review was widened to all programming and extended back until January 2005.

The Guardian

Last week the mission was widened to include intercepting weapons traffickers and training Libya's coastguard.

The Guardian

It turned out that when the highway was widened in 1960, 10 bodies were exhumed.

The Washington Post

By now the search was widened to cover an area from Australia to Afghanistan.

Independent

"Every single entryway in the house was widened, and the bathroom was handicap-accessible".

The New York Times

It is on 20th Avenue, which during the building process was widened.

The New York Times

Pullman's father had been involved in contracting the moving of large buildings when the Erie Canal was widened.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The last time the band was widened was in May 2007.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing modifications to physical spaces or objects, ensure the context clearly indicates that width, rather than length or height, is the dimension being altered.

Common error

Avoid using "was widened" when the intended meaning is an increase in scope or range, not physical width. Use "was broadened" or "was expanded" instead for abstract concepts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was widened" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that something (the subject) underwent the action of being made wider. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

32%

News & Media

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was widened" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive construction that describes an increase in the width of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in Wiki, News & Media and Science contexts. When using "was widened", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the intended modification pertains to width rather than another dimension like length or height. For situations involving an increase in scope or range, consider alternatives like "was broadened" or ""was expanded"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was expanded

Emphasizes an increase in size or extent, closely mirroring "was widened".

became wider

Simply states that something's width increased, focusing on the end result.

was enlarged

Focuses on making something bigger, similar to "was widened" but often implies a more substantial increase.

was increased in size

A more explicit way of saying something became larger, maintaining a high level of similarity.

was extended

Highlights the increase in length or duration rather than width but can be contextually relevant.

was broadened

Indicates an increase in scope or range, rather than physical width.

was augmented

Suggests an addition or enhancement that increases the overall size or capacity.

saw an increase in width

Highlights the change in width as an event or observation.

had its width increased

Focuses on the action of increasing width, rather than the state of being wider.

grew wider

Implies a natural or gradual increase in width.

FAQs

How can I use "was widened" in a sentence?

Use "was widened" to describe something that has been made physically wider. For example, "The road "was widened" to accommodate more traffic".

What are some alternatives to "was widened"?

Depending on the context, you could use "was expanded", "was enlarged", or "was extended". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was widen" instead of "was widened"?

No, "was widen" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form requires the past participle, so it should be ""was widened"".

What's the difference between "was widened" and "was broadened"?

"Was widened" refers to a physical increase in width, while "was broadened" typically refers to an increase in scope, range, or understanding.