wide
Old Englishbroad, extensive, spanning
About This Root
From Old English wīd (broad, extensive), from Proto-Germanic *wīdaz. In modern English it moves from physical breadth (wide, widen, width) to figurative scope (widespread, worldwide). A productive pattern uses '-wide' as a suffix meaning 'across the whole of' — nationwide, worldwide, system-wide — making it one of the few native English roots that functions as a living combining form.
Associated Words · 8
wide
having great breadth; broad; far from a target
widely
Over a large area or range; by many people; to a great extent
widespread
Found or distributed over a large area; affecting many people or places
worldwide
Spanning the entire world; globally
widen
To become or make wider or more extensive
width
The measurement of something from side to side
system-wide
Affecting or applying to an entire system
world-wide
Spanning the entire world; globally