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to broaden someone's understanding

to broaden someone's understanding

4.1
To help someone understand more about a subject or the world
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈbrɔːdən ˈsʌmˌwʌnz ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/
translation icon : ampliar la comprensión de alguien
  • Interdisciplinary technology courses can broaden interns' understanding of technology-enhanced learning and spur creativity.

Examples

  • Having the opportunity to conduct their own investigations broadens students' understanding of the work of scientists.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Having the opportunity to conduct their own investigations broadens students' understanding of the work of scientists.

    Academic text (2003)
  • This arrangement can broaden students' musical understanding without compromising the development of essential performance skills.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The aim of the minilesson was to broaden the students' understanding of using the senses in their writing, as too often, they had the tendency to over-rely on the reader's sense of sight.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Recognizing the importance of the adaptive fit between organism and environment, Pardeck (1988) suggests three concepts that help broaden one's understanding of the fit.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Visiting different cultures can broaden your understanding of the world.

  • Attending workshops can broaden your understanding of various teaching methods.

  • Reading diverse literature helps to broaden one's understanding of different perspectives.

Synonyms

to educate
vsto broaden someone's understanding
627 2.2

To give someone knowledge and skills by teaching or training over time

increases awareness more generally without long formal training
to broaden
vsto broaden someone's understanding
92 3.9

To make or become wider and include more things

applies specifically to growing a person's knowledge rather than general widening
to widen
vsto broaden someone's understanding
85 2.5

To make something have more space from one side to the other so it fits or moves more easily

refers specifically to expanding a person's knowledge rather than physical width
to enlighten
vsto broaden someone's understanding
55 4.8

To give someone clear information to help them understand something

widens overall knowledge rather than only clarifying details
to familiarize
vsto broaden someone's understanding
24 4.1

To help someone learn about something

aims to broaden understanding more deeply than simple familiarity
to assimilate
vsto broaden someone's understanding
22 5.5

Take in and understand new ideas or information

helps increase knowledge but does not require complete internal absorption
to broaden horizons
vsto broaden someone's understanding
5 3.7

To learn new things and try new experiences

focuses more narrowly on improving a person's understanding of a subject
to edify
vsto broaden someone's understanding
  • Formal
3 7.0

To teach someone in a way that makes their thinking and actions better

expands general knowledge rather than focusing on moral growth
to open someone's eyes
vsto broaden someone's understanding
  • Informal
3 3.7

Make someone understand something they did not know before

broadens understanding more gradually rather than causing a sudden surprise

How Much

to educate
627 2.2
to enlighten
55 4.8
to broaden someone's understanding
4.1
to explain
1.0
to inform
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

broaden + someone's + understanding

The meaning is directly derived from combining 'broaden' (to expand) with 'understanding' (knowledge), so 'to make someone's knowledge larger' follows compositionally. The possessive simply marks whose understanding is affected, and this common verb + noun pattern is cross-linguistically regular and predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Broaden someone's understanding uses the image of making a view wider: imagine a small window that opens so you can see more of a scene. Because broaden means 'make wider' and understanding means 'what you know', the phrase came to mean 'to make someone know or understand more'.