widen up
B1 neutral separable both
In simple words
To make something wider, or to include more things or people.
Literal meaning: To make the width of something larger, extending it outward in both directions.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To become physically wider or to make something physically wider.
"They plan to widen up the main road to reduce traffic congestion."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To increase the range or scope of something abstract such as a search, discussion, or curriculum.
"The school decided to widen up the curriculum to include more creative subjects."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Less common than 'widen' alone or 'broaden out'. Can be used both physically (roads, gaps) and figuratively (perspectives, options). The 'up' particle adds emphasis on completion or increase.
Commonly used with
road gap scope range focus perspective
Forms
Base
widen up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
widens up
he/she/it
Past simple
widened up
yesterday
Past participle
widened up
have + pp
-ing form
widening up
continuous
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Synonyms
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