widen

When you made something broader or more open, you widen it. In order to add bike lanes on your street, the city may need to widen it.

Your friend's smile will undoubtedly widen when you hand him a chocolate cupcake — in other words, what starts as a grin gets bigger and wider. A scholar who widens her area of expertise adds subjects to her research, and your dinner options widen when two great new restaurants open in your town.

Definitions of widen
  1. verb
    extend in scope or range or area
    “widen the range of applications”
    synonyms: broaden, extend
    expand, extend
    expand the influence of
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    types:
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    broaden
    make broader
    territorialise, territorialize
    extend by adding territory
    globalise, globalize
    make world-wide in scope or application
    stretch
    extend the scope or meaning of; often unduly
    type of:
    increase
    make bigger or more
  2. verb
    make wider
    “widen the road”
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    types:
    white out
    widen the interlinear spacing by inserting leads
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  3. verb
    become broader or wider or more extensive
    “The road widened”
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    Antonyms:
    contract, narrow
    make or become more narrow or restricted
    types:
    flare, flare out
    become flared and widen, usually at one end
    dilate, distend
    become wider
    type of:
    increase
    become bigger or greater in amount
  4. verb
    make (clothes) larger
    synonyms: let out
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    Antonyms:
    take in
    make (clothes) smaller
    type of:
    alter, change, vary
    become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
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