widen to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the action of increasing the width or scope of something, such as a view, perspective, or physical space. Example: "As we progress through the project, we need to widen to include more stakeholders in our discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

His eyes widen to pools of blue.

The New York Times - Sports

Economists had expected it to widen to $45 billion.

The New York Times

Her eyes widen to fill her whole head.

The Guardian - Film

Next year, this will widen to include students with ABB.

The Guardian

Its current-account deficit is expected to widen to a worrying 6% of GDP this year.

The Economist

The gap had been forecast by some economists to widen to $48.8 billion.

The New York Times

If nothing is done, this gap will widen to 68.2tn yuan ($10.9tn) by 2033.

The Guardian

Economists had expected the trade gap to widen to $28.5 billion for the month.

The New York Times

(Though that does widen to 18% for those who arrived further back – between 1991 and 1995).

The Guardian

Those options widen to include 12 weeks' custody if aggravated by the way the goods were obtained.

The Guardian - Opinion

The budget deficit looks set to widen to £43 billion ($84 billion) in 2007-08, according to Citigroup, a bank.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "widen to" when describing a process that increases the scope or range of something, ensuring that the context clearly indicates what is being expanded and to what extent.

Common error

Avoid using "widen to" without clearly defining the new boundaries or extent of the expansion. For instance, instead of saying "The project will widen to include new features", specify "The project will widen to include features related to user accessibility".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen to" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a transition or expansion towards a specific state, boundary, or inclusion. Ludwig shows it's used to describe literal expansions (like roads) and abstract expansions (like project scope).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widen to" is a versatile phrase used to express the act of increasing the scope or range of something, applicable in both physical and abstract contexts. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse reputable sources. While alternatives like ""expand to"" or "extend to" exist, it's crucial to ensure clarity and specificity in your writing when using this phrase. This analysis emphasizes the importance of understanding its function, purpose, and register to effectively communicate expansion or broadening in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand into

Implies growth or extension into a new area or state.

extend towards

Suggests a physical or metaphorical reaching out or lengthening in a specific direction.

broaden towards

Indicates a widening of perspective, understanding, or scope in a specific direction.

increase to

Focuses on the numerical or measurable growth to a specified level.

develop into

Highlights the process of evolving or growing into a more complete or advanced form.

grow into

Implies a natural or gradual progression into a new state or condition.

enlarge to

Emphasizes the increase in size or capacity to a certain extent.

amplify to

Suggests an increase in intensity, volume, or significance to a particular degree.

escalate towards

Implies a gradual increase in intensity or severity in a particular direction.

spread towards

Indicates a distribution or expansion across an area or group in a specific direction.

FAQs

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

Use "widen to" to indicate an expansion or increase. For example, "The investigation will "expand to" include new evidence" or "The road will "broaden to" accommodate more traffic".

What are some alternatives to "widen to"?

You can use alternatives such as ""expand to"", "increase to", or "extend to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "widen up to" instead of "widen to"?

While "widen to" is generally preferred and more common, "widen up to" isn't necessarily incorrect, but it might sound less formal. "Widen to" is usually more concise and direct.

What's the difference between "widen to" and ""broaden to""?

"Widen to" often refers to a physical expansion or scope increase, whereas ""broaden to"" can imply an expansion of knowledge, understanding, or perspective. However, the two are often interchangeable.