Word Study
widen
CIDE DICTIONARY
widen, v. t.
To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking. [1913 Webster]
widen, v. i.
To grow wide or wider; to enlarge; to spread; to extend. [1913 Webster]
"Arches widen, and long aisles extend." [1913 Webster]
THESAURUS
widen
accrue, accumulate, add to, advance, aggrandize, amplify, appreciate, augment, balloon, bloat, blow up, boom, branch, branch out, breed, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, crescendo, deal in generalities, deepen, deploy, develop, dilate, disperse, distend, ecumenicize, enlarge, expand, extend, fan, fan out, fill out, flare, gain, gain strength, generalize, get ahead, globalize, go up, greaten, grow, hike, hike up, huff, increase, inflate, intensify, magnify, make a generalization, mount, multiply, open, open up, outspread, outstretch, overgrow, overrun, proliferate, puff, puff up, pump, pump up, raise, ramify, rarefy, rise, run up, shoot up, snowball, splay, spraddle, sprangle, sprawl, spread, spread like wildfire, spread out, strengthen, stretch, sufflate, swell, tumefy, unfold, universalize, up, waxROGET THESAURUS
widen
Expansion
VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten, become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.Thickness,
VB be broad, become broad, render broad, expand, thicken, widen, calibrate.For further exploring for "widen" in Webster Dictionary Online