EN

Synonyms for broaden

12 synonyms
9 antonyms
2 meanings

verb

Most common

widen expand extend enlarge diversify branch out

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Widen — to make broad or broader

widen, expand, extend, enlarge, thicken, splay, breadthen, enwiden, widthen rare

2. Diversify

diversify, branch out

Other

Antonyms

narrow, restrict, limit

All antonyms of broaden →

Definitions

v. 1
To make broad or broader.
Travel broadens the mind.
v. 2
To become broad or broader.
The roads gradually broadened as we drove into the countryside.

Related words

Phrases: broaden someone's horizons

Forms

Past participle: broadened
e.g. broadened → widened, expanded, extended, enlarged…

Example sentences

expand Detours expand your knowledge of the surroundings.
extend I want to extend my stay here for a few more days.
widen They're trying to widen the road to the village.
enlarge He wanted to enlarge his sphere of influence.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
broaden		steady
expand		steady
extend		falling
widen		steady
enlarge		falling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters: widen², splay
6 letters: expand², extend²
7 letters: enlarge², thicken², enwiden, widthen
9 letters: diversify⁴, breadthen, embroaden

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (widen² = 2 syllables).