Distinguishing Broad & Wide

Broad vs Wide

Broad and wide may appear to have the same meaning, but they are used differently. The term “wide” denotes the physical distance from one side of an object to another. For example:

1. The lion opened its mouth wide.
2. The bus is too wide to enter into the lane.

In both examples, “wide” refers to the physical distance between two sides of something.

On the other hand, “broad” is mainly used in expressions like “broad-shouldered” or “broad-faced.” It is more commonly used in figurative expressions in poetry, describing fields, valleys, rivers, and other landscape features.

Key Takeaways

• “Wide” refers to the physical distance from one side to another of an object or space.
• “Broad” is mainly used in figurative expressions and often relates to abstract concepts.
• Examples of “broad” include “broad daylight,” “broad hint,” and “broad agreement.”

Interestingly, “broad” is frequently used in abstract expressions, as shown in these examples:

1. The robbery took place in broad daylight.
2. He gave me a broad hint.
3. The two parties entered into a broad agreement between them.

In these sentences, “broad” is used in abstract expressions.

Meanwhile, “wide” can also be used in expressions like “wide apart,” “wide awake,” and “widespread,” as seen in these sentences:

1. The two screws stand wide apart.
2. He stayed wide awake all through the night.
3. There was widespread rain in the city yesterday.

In these examples, “wide” is used in various expressions. The noun forms of “broad” and “wide” are “breadth” and “width,” respectively.