widest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the greatest extent or breadth of something, often in a comparative context. Example: "This road is the widest in the city, allowing for multiple lanes of traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The town of only about 400 residents draws tens of thousands of visitors every year to one of the widest and most scenic spots on the Mighty Mississippi.

The Guardian

And after Thatcher's memorable fall in November 1990, her predecessor wore Westminster's widest, toothiest smile and borrowed one of her own phrases: "Rejoice, rejoice".

The Guardian

The margin between the cash rate and the average credit card rate is now the widest since records began in 1990, according to RBA statistics.

The Guardian - Business

A close second on her debut at Naas earlier this month, the Oasis Dream filly confirmed that promise and won well considering she had to race widest of the main protagonists through the early stages.

The Guardian - Sport

Lady Morgan, a Labour peer and adviser to Tony Blair for 10 years, said: "We have just suffered a catastrophic election defeat and need the widest possible debate about how we rebuild support for the party.

The Guardian

The film expands to about 250 cinemas from its second weekend, by far the widest play for a Leigh title.

The Guardian - Film

Rather, it's to offer the widest, most creative kind of dance education possible.

The Guardian

Spain's equivalent of Rightmove, with the widest selection of properties, is called Idealista.com.

The Guardian - Money

David Warner played a starring role as Australia recorded the World Cup's highest ever total – en route to victory by the widest margin in the tournament's history – against Afghanistan in Perth.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

On June 13th it won wide acclaim for a new pain-sharing plan to close the £3.5 billion gap between what it had promised to pay members of its defined-benefit pension plan and the assets set aside to do so.To fill the gap, the second-widest among quoted British companies, BAE will put an extra £1.1 billion in cash and property into its fund.

The Economist

Within weeks, Miss Künast, till then a fairly unimportant co-spokesman of the small Green party, had shot to the top of the popularity charts, just behind Mr Schröder and Joschka Fischer, the foreign minister.In this section Silvio Berlusconi is put to the test The widest-ever choice Slap happy Old massacre, new casualties Putin's frustration No change?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widest", ensure the context clearly indicates a measurement of physical width or range, as opposed to scope or influence, for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "widest" when you actually mean "most comprehensive" or "most extensive". "Widest" refers to physical breadth or range, not abstract scope.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "widest" is as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it possesses the greatest extent or breadth compared to all others of its kind. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widest" functions as a superlative adjective, denoting the greatest extent or breadth. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Sports. While grammatically sound, ensure its use accurately reflects physical width or range to avoid confusion with abstract scope. Consider alternatives like "broadest" or "most expansive" for nuanced expression. The frequency of "widest" is very common, indicating its widespread acceptance and application in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maximum width

A more technical or descriptive term specifying the greatest width.

broadest

Indicates the greatest extent or range, similar to "widest" but emphasizes inclusivity or variety.

greatest breadth

Emphasizes the measurement of width at its largest point.

most expansive

Highlights the extensive nature and scale, focusing on the large area covered.

most extensive

Similar to "widest" in denoting a large scope, but stresses the reach or influence.

most comprehensive

Emphasizes thoroughness and completeness rather than physical width.

largest

Refers to overall size or magnitude, which can sometimes imply width.

most all-encompassing

Indicates a complete inclusion of everything, differing from the strictly spatial sense of "widest".

most far-reaching

Highlights the impact or influence over a large area or scope, unlike "widest" which is primarily spatial.

most inclusive

Stresses the inclusion of the greatest number of elements, differing from the physical dimension implied by "widest".

FAQs

How is "widest" typically used in a sentence?

"Widest" is generally used as a superlative adjective to describe something that has the greatest extent from side to side. For example, "This river has the widest point in the region."

What's a good alternative to using the word "widest"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "broadest", "most expansive", or "most extensive". Choose the word that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "widest" versus "broadest"?

"Widest" is best used when referring to a specific measurement or physical attribute. "Broadest", on the other hand, can also refer to a range or scope, making it more versatile. For instance, "the widest river" versus "the broadest range of options".

Is it correct to say "the widest possible debate"?

Yes, it's correct. The expression "widest possible debate" is common and means including the greatest number of viewpoints and participants. This usage extends the idea of physical width to encompass scope or inclusivity.