broaden

verb

broad·​en ˈbrȯ-dᵊn How to pronounce broaden (audio)
broadened; broadening ˈbrȯd-niŋ How to pronounce broaden (audio)
ˈbrȯ-dᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to become broad

Examples of broaden in a Sentence

They need to broaden their understanding of other cultures. The police have broadened the scope of the investigation. Her smile broadened when I told her the good news. The investigation has broadened to include the mayor's staff. His interests broadened to include art and music, not just sports.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My jazz listening broadened in college and in my 20s, often toward more genre-clashing artists such as Toronto jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD, American guitarist Jeff Parker and fusion group Return to Forever, led by the late Chick Corea. Miguel Otárola, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025 Best Buy has been broadening its service offerings, particularly through Geek Squad and its health segment, to support product sales, improve margins, and enhance customer engagement. Trefis Team, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 Continued study of the area aims to broaden our scientific understanding of the dinosaurs and other vertebrates that lived in Patagonia during the last 15 million years of the Cretaceous. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025 The studio is now broadening beyond theological stories to focus on meaningful, uplifting entertainment. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for broaden

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of broaden was in 1727

Cite this Entry

“Broaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broaden. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

broaden

verb
broad·​en ˈbrȯd-ᵊn How to pronounce broaden (audio)
broadened; broadening ˈbrȯd-niŋ How to pronounce broaden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become broad or broader
broaden your horizons

More from Merriam-Webster on broaden

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!