widen budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen budget" is not commonly used in written English and may not be clear in its meaning.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express the idea of increasing the financial scope or flexibility of a budget. Example: "In order to accommodate new projects, we need to widen the budget for the upcoming fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A recent report by her office predicts that the surging senior population will strain the economy, cool growth, widen budget gaps and make government services more costly to provide — even as the aging seniors become increasingly reliant on those services.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The two-year-old spending spree has opened a widening budget deficit.

The New York Times

Mr Reagan cut taxes in his first year but increased them later in the face of widening budget deficits.

The Economist

Under the pressure of a widening budget deficit, the government is in no position to provide that capital.

The Economist

He came to office spooked by a widening budget deficit into thinking the fiscal situation was dire.

The Economist

Kiria said Tanzania's widening budget deficit and persistent power cuts have damaged Kikwete's relations with donors.

The Guardian

Mr. Cavallo hopes to shave $3 billion from a widening budget deficit to meet International Monetary Fund targets set late last year.

The New York Times

That is particularly worrying given that Western European countries must raise more than half a trillion dollars this year to refinance existing debts and cover their widening budget gaps.

The New York Times

That will lead to a vicious feedback loop in which recession widens budget deficits, swells government debts and feeds popular opposition to austerity and reform.

The Economist

Politically, any new rescue package depends on the Greek government pushing through more savings to close a widening budget gap — a demand that provoked the crisis this week.

The New York Times

On Monday, Rockland County sent a delegation to Albany to ask for the authority to close its widening budget deficit by issuing bonds backed by a sales tax increase.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widen budget", ensure the context clearly indicates an increase in financial scope or flexibility. Alternatives like "expand the budget" or "increase the budget" may be more readily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "widen budget" when the intention is to reallocate funds within the existing budget rather than increasing the total amount. Use terms like "reallocate" or "restructure" instead to reflect this internal adjustment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen budget" primarily functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, where "widen" acts as a transitive verb indicating the action of increasing or expanding the scope of the "budget". While not as common, according to Ludwig, it maintains grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "widen budget" is a grammatically sound but infrequently used expression to describe the act of increasing a budget's financial scope. While Ludwig acknowledges its correctness, alternatives such as "expand the budget" or "increase the budget" are more commonly employed and may offer greater clarity. Its primary context lies within news and media, indicating a neutral register. While the meaning is clear, consider the audience and context to make sure that your message is understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expand the budget

Replaces "widen" with "expand", suggesting a broader increase in the budget's scope.

Increase the budget

Uses "increase" for a more direct and straightforward way to indicate raising the budget amount.

Enlarge the budget

Suggests making the budget larger, similar to expanding or increasing it.

Extend the budget

Implies making the budget cover a longer period or more activities.

Broaden the budget

Suggests making the budget more inclusive of different areas or expenses.

Supplement the budget

Indicates adding to the existing budget with extra funds.

Augment the budget

Formally suggests increasing the budget, often with a specific purpose in mind.

Boost the budget

Implies a significant increase in the budget, often to stimulate specific activities.

Inflate the budget

Suggests an excessive or disproportionate increase in the budget.

Enhance the budget

Focuses on improving the budget to better meet its intended goals.

FAQs

How can I use "widen budget" in a sentence?

You can use "widen budget" to describe the action of increasing the financial resources available for a particular purpose. For instance, "The company decided to widen the budget for marketing to improve brand awareness."

What are some alternatives to saying "widen budget"?

Instead of "widen budget", you could use phrases like "expand the budget", "increase the budget", or "enlarge the budget", depending on the context.

Is "widen budget" grammatically correct?

Yes, "widen budget" is grammatically correct, although it is not as commonly used as alternatives like "increase the budget". Its meaning is generally understood, but using a more common phrase may improve clarity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "widen budget"?

The phrase "widen budget" is appropriate when you want to express the idea of making the financial scope of a budget larger or more inclusive. This can be due to new projects, increased costs, or strategic financial adjustments.