Broadening
/ˈbrɔːdənɪŋ/
verbIntermediate📊CommonAction
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
To increase the scope, range, or extent of something.
/ˈbrɔːdənɪŋ/
verbneutralIntermediate
Action
To make or become wider or larger in scope.
The river broadens as it approaches the sea.
💡 Simply: To make something bigger or wider.
More Examples
2
He's broadening his skills by taking extra classes.
How It's Used
Education
"The course is designed to broaden students' understanding of history."
Personal Development
"Travel helps broaden one's horizons."
From the verb 'broaden', ultimately derived from Old English 'brād' meaning 'wide'. The '-ening' suffix indicates a process or action of becoming broader.
The word 'broaden' has been used consistently since the Middle English period, maintaining its core meaning of increasing width or scope.
Memory tip
Imagine a road broadening – getting wider and encompassing more.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"wide"
Base: broad
broaden one's horizonsbroaden one's experiencebroaden one's understanding
Common misspellings
brodeningbroadining
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written