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widespread

widespread

232 3.6
Happening in many places or among many people
  • adjective
  • /ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd/
: generalizado
  • The storm caused widespread damage to homes and businesses across the city.
  • widespread use
  • widespread adoption
  • more widespread

But that doesn't mean they are ready for widespread adoption yet.

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Examples

  • The events drew thousands of attendees and gained widespread national media attention.

  • We must discover how widespread this infection is.

  • And this can have a widespread range of negative effects on our health.

  • For one thing, we have no idea how widespread the native sources are or where they are.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • This was already in widespread use by Native Americans.

  • Would you say there was widespread hunger?

  • Next year, in my opinion, we'll see widespread depression and unemployment.

  • That's a widespread opinion among a lot of smart people.

  • By 1910, the Home Rule movement has achieved widespread popular support in Ireland.

  • And another thing that's going right is the widespread dissemination of knowledge.

Synonyms

general
vswidespread
∞ 1.0

Not specific and including most people or cases

means existing across many people or areas rather than being particular
extensive
vswidespread
314 4.1

Large in amount, range, or area

emphasizes presence among many people rather than just physical size
large-scale
vswidespread
121 3.8

Very large and affecting many people or places

focuses on existing across wide areas or among many people
prevalent
vswidespread
67 3.8

Common in many places or among many people at a certain time

is used for general existence across areas rather than a specific time
pervasive
vswidespread
65 7.1

Spreads through a place or group and affects many people

is neutral about the extent and does not imply negativity
ubiquitous
vswidespread
54 9.0

Found in many places at the same time

is found across large areas but not necessarily in every place
prevailing
vswidespread
38 3.9

Most common at a certain time or in a certain place

refers to existence across wide areas regardless of time period
predominant
vswidespread
19 4.8

More common or important than others in a group

simply describes existence across areas or people without dominance
widely distributed
vswidespread
6 2.9

Found in many parts of the world

covers large areas or many people without implying worldwide reach
area-wide
vswidespread
1 4.1

Affecting all parts of a town, city, or region

refers broadly to existing across large areas or among many people

Antonyms

33 4.8

Found only in one small area

Compounds

Serious harm that affects a large area or many things

Damage across a large area that destroys buildings and homes

Water covers a large area and causes damage

How Widespread

ubiquitous
54 9.0
widespread
232 3.6
common
∞ 1.0
occasional
257 2.8
rare
944 4.1

Surface Forms

widespread positive

Morphology

widespread = wide + spread (transparent) = wide + spread

The adjective is a direct compound of 'wide' + 'spread' with the meaning 'spread widely'; the components and semantic composition are transparent to learners.

Etymology

Widespread combines the simple words wide ('broad' or 'over a large area') and spread ('to move out or cover'). Think of jam spread wide on bread: it covers a lot, so something widespread is found across a large area or among many people.