Broaden
What it means
To increase the range, scope, or variety of something.
Reach for it when describing growth in knowledge, opportunity, participation, or perspective
The exchange will broaden each apprentice's view of repair traditions.
Words to choose between 7
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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everyday
widen
Fits when range or access increases in a direct measurable way
Careful Widen can suggest physical dimension and may sound mechanical for understanding.
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warm
open up
Fits when new access or possibilities become available
Careful Open up is informal; it may also mean disclosing private feelings.
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professional
Fits when variety increases across people, sources, or activities
Careful Diversify is inaccurate when scope grows in one direction.
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professional
expand
Fits when capacity, scope, or reach becomes larger
Careful Expansion can add volume without adding variety.
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professional
extend
Fits when duration, reach, or availability goes farther
Careful Extend may continue the same thing rather than introduce new range.
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formal
deepen
Fits when understanding gains detail and complexity
Careful Deepen increases intensity or detail, not breadth.
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formal
enlarge
Fits when overall size or scope increases
Careful Enlarge is awkward for empathy or perspective and may imply only quantity.
Opposites 3
- narrow
- restrict
- contract
Common phrases 3
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broaden horizons
Travel can broaden horizons when visitors listen as well as look.
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broaden access
Evening hours broaden access for workers and caregivers.
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broaden understanding
The oral histories broaden understanding of the strike.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated