widen in size

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen in size" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is increasing in dimensions or becoming larger. Example: "As the balloon was filled with air, it began to widen in size, taking on a more rounded shape."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As etching proceeds, the grains shrink and the grain boundaries widen in size, leading to the appearance of pits or trenches.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Human obstacles, which tumblers flip over, widen in person-size increments.

The New York Times - Arts

Dia's eyes widen in adoration.

The Economist

Victor's eyes widen in rage.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Brittany's eyes widen in horror.

BBC

The two-phase coarsening was associated with clear trends of widening in the second-phase size distribution and changes in phase boundary nature.

Acta Materialia

If small trees gain in relation to tall trees, they stay in the game and can widen the size distribution and vertical structuring.

Forest Ecosystems

Future research should widen the size of the sample and investigate social farming in other local, national and international areas.

Agricultural and Food Economics

These processes can widen the size distribution and also affect the ultimate particle shape in the recovered product.

The Journal of Supercritical Fluids

Mesopore formation beginning with pore sizes <50 nm followed by pore widening in alkaline etch solution is also attempted.

Electrochimica Acta

His eyes widened in disbelief.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: "widen in size" is best suited for technical or descriptive writing where precision is important. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "get wider" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "widen in size" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or technical. Simpler phrases like "get wider" or "grow larger" are often more suitable in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen in size" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of becoming larger in a specific dimension (width). The phrase is used to describe a physical change or growth in width, as suggested by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "widen in size" is grammatically sound but rare. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression serves a descriptive function, particularly emphasizing an increase in width. Its usage is found mostly within scientific and news media contexts, suggesting a leaning towards neutrality in register. For more informal situations, simpler alternatives such as "get wider" may be more appropriate. While grammatically correct, consider the context to ensure the most suitable phrase is used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand in width

Synonymous, puts more focus on the "width" dimension.

increase in dimension

Focuses on the dimensional aspect of growing, is more formal.

grow in breadth

Emphasizes the horizontal expansion or widening, potentially in a non-literal way.

become broader

Simple and direct, without the prepositional phrase.

extend laterally

Technical, implies a side-to-side expansion.

get larger

General term for size increase, less specific about the widening aspect.

swell in magnitude

More intense, implies an increase in significance or impact.

amplify in extent

Formal, often used in abstract or metaphorical contexts.

dilate in diameter

Specific to circular or cylindrical shapes.

spread in area

Highlights the expansion over a surface or region.

FAQs

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

You can use "widen in size" to describe something increasing in width or breadth. For example: "As the metal was heated, the gap began to "widen in size"."

What are some alternatives to "widen in size"?

Some alternatives include "increase in dimension", "expand in width", or "become broader", depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is "widen in size" most appropriate?

"Widen in size" is most appropriate in technical or descriptive writing where the emphasis is on the specific aspect of widening, rather than just general size increase. It is less common in casual conversation.

Is "widen in size" grammatically correct?

Yes, "widen in size" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English grammar rules and is used to describe the process of something becoming wider or broader.