Widen vs. extend: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Widen specifically refers to making something broader or wider, typically related to width. Extend is more general and can refer to increasing length, time, or scope, not limited to width.
What they have in common
Both widen and extend refer to increasing dimensions or scope. They can both be used to describe physical changes or metaphorical expansions.
Examples
widen
- They plan to widen the road to allow for more traffic.
- She wants to widen her vocabulary by learning new words.
- The river begins to widen as it approaches the sea.
extend
- They decided to extend the deadline by a week.
- The company plans to extend its services to other countries.
- He extended his hand in greeting.
Which one is more common?
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