# widely

Pronunciation: say "WYD-lee" /ˈwaɪdli/

## Adverb

1. Among or by many people; commonly, generally, or to a great degree.
   - Simple: Among many people, in many places, or by a large amount.
   - _The theory is widely accepted among researchers in the field._
   - _Her novels are widely read across the country and beyond._
2. In a wide manner, or across a large, extended area.
   - Simple: Over a large area, or covering a lot of space.
   - _Settlers were scattered widely across the open plains._
   - _The two trails diverge widely once you pass the old bridge._

## Origin

From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to "wide" plus the suffix "-ly".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/widely (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).