This meaning describes something that has a large space from one side to the other side. We use it to talk about things that are not narrow.
The river is very wide here.
She opened the wide door slowly.
This meaning is used to say that something includes many different things or covers many parts or subjects. It means 'large in scope' or 'very general'.
She has a wide knowledge of history.
The museum has a wide range of paintings.
This meaning is about something being open very much, for example, eyes or a mouth. It means that the opening is large or stretched.
She kept her eyes wide open.
He smiled with a wide mouth.
This use is to show that something is opened fully or very much. It is used to tell someone to open or spread something a lot.
Open the door wide, please.
The window is wide open now.
This meaning describes something that fits loosely and is not tight around the body. Clothes or shoes can be wide if they have a lot of space inside.
He wore wide pants yesterday.
These shoes are too wide for me.
In sports, 'wide' means the ball is thrown outside the allowed playing area or target. It is usually a fault or mistake.
The bowler delivered a wide ball.
The pitcher threw wide again.
This meaning describes natural areas or places that cover a large space or are very broad across the land.
The wide plains stretched for miles.
We saw a wide forest during the hike.
In informal UK slang, 'wide' can insult a man, calling him a coward or a fool. It is not polite and is used to criticize someone's behavior.
He's such a wide for not trying harder.
Don't be a wide, join us now!
