widely
UK: ˈwaɪdli | US: ˈwaɪdli
adv. to a great extent or over a large area
adv. by many people or in many instances
The word "widely" combines the Old English root "wīd" (meaning "spacious" or "broad") with the adverbial suffix "-ly," which transforms adjectives into adverbs. "Wīd" traces back to Proto-Germanic *wīdaz, reflecting expansiveness. Over time, "-ly" (from Old English "-līce") became a standard way to denote manner or degree. Thus, "widely" literally means "in a broad manner," evolving to describe both physical scope and figurative prevalence.
The news spread widely across social media.
She is widely regarded as an expert in her field.
The trees were planted widely apart to allow growth.
His work has been widely published in scientific journals.
The festival attracts visitors widely from different countries.