widen support

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen support" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to increase backing or endorsement for a particular cause, initiative, or project. Example: "The organization aims to widen support for environmental conservation by engaging more community members in their initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Reversing the amendment would empower Parliament and the prime minister.Habits of sycophancy will widen support for the new rulers.

The Economist

In a concession designed to widen support for the new state, when Israel was founded its secular rulers left matters of marriage, divorce and burial in the rabbinate's hands.

The Economist

This attempt to widen support for the republican government was a failure, however, and control of policy soon passed from Azaña's hands, though he remained in office as a figurehead.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Democratic officials on Thursday also said they had secured some changes intended to widen support, adding a tax break for ethanol production and extending a grant program to promote alternative energy.

The New York Times

But if this is how some of our best friends are talking, imagine how difficult it is going to be to win over America's more ambivalent allies -- to widen support for the rebuilding of Iraq.

The New York Times

In the late afternoon, a bipartisan American Congressional delegation led by Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, said at the American Embassy here that it supported Dr. Allawi's efforts to widen support for the elections.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Senator Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, told The New York Sun on Thursday that Mr. McCain's widening support was making a Bloomberg run increasingly unlikely.

The New York Times

Achieving a better outcome than the current one (which even lawyers think overly legalistic) might best be achieved through a convention like the one that built consensus for Scottish devolution, widening support for human rights in general.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the end, it coined a new word for the language, sold 500,000 copies in 12 languages, helped to abolish the 11-plus examination, made the left think more carefully about equal opportunities, and widened support for a pluralistic society.

The Guardian

Locos por Juana deserves the accolades, along with its steadily widening support base.

Los Angeles Times

The controversy began to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public from this foundation, and gained widening support within certain elements in the autism advocacy community as well as in the political arena, with U.S. Representative Dan Burton openly supporting this movement and holding a number of Congressional hearings on the subject.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widen support", consider specifying the target group or demographic you aim to reach for greater clarity and impact. For example: "widen support among young voters".

Common error

Avoid using "widen support" without context; clearly indicate what you are seeking support for to prevent ambiguity. For example, instead of "We need to widen support", specify: "We need to widen support for the new environmental policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen support" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "widen" acts as a transitive verb indicating the action of making something broader or more extensive, and "support" serves as the direct object, referring to the backing or approval being expanded. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "widen support" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that means to increase the extent or scope of backing for something. As shown by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, though its use extends to encyclopedias and formal business settings as well. When using this phrase, be sure to specify what you are seeking support for. Alternatives such as "expand support" or "increase approval" may be appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand backing

Emphasizes increasing the tangible or material assistance given.

broaden endorsement

Highlights making the public declaration of support more inclusive.

increase approval

Focuses specifically on gaining more favorable opinions or consent.

extend advocacy

Refers to prolonging or increasing active promotion of a cause or idea.

foster acceptance

Highlights promoting a general agreement and tolerance.

amplify assistance

Implies making the help or aid provided more powerful or effective.

gather consensus

Focuses on achieving a collective agreement or widespread opinion.

bolster solidarity

Emphasizes strengthening unity and mutual support.

cultivate goodwill

Suggests developing positive sentiments and relationships.

rally collaboration

Focuses on gathering individuals to work together for a common objective.

FAQs

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

You can use "widen support" when you want to express the action of increasing the amount of agreement for someone or something. For example, "The campaign aims to "widen support" for the new policy among voters".

What are some alternatives to "widen support"?

Alternatives to "widen support" include phrases like "expand support", "increase approval", or "broaden endorsement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "widening support"?

Yes, "widening support" is the present participle form and can be used to describe an ongoing process, such as "The politician is focusing on widening support for their climate change proposal".

What's the difference between "widen support" and "increase support"?

While both phrases mean to gain more backing, "widen support" often implies extending the range or scope of support, while "increase support" suggests a greater volume of existing support.