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Widen vs Lengthen - What's the difference?

widen | lengthen |

In intransitive terms the difference between widen and lengthen

is that widen is to become wide or wider while lengthen is to become longer.

In transitive terms the difference between widen and lengthen

is that widen is to broaden or extend in scope or range while lengthen is to make longer, to extend the length of.

widen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To become wide or wider.
  • His eyes widened as her negligee fell to the floor.
  • To make wide or wider.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=But he still saw his side produce a rousing display which owed much to their lauded prowess from set-pieces, despite Uefa regulations meaning the pitch had to be widened and, in the process, the run-up area for Delap's long throws reduced.}}
  • To let out clothes to a larger size.
  • She widened his trousers for him.
  • To broaden or extend in scope or range.
  • The police widened their enquiries.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    lengthen

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make longer, to extend the length of.
  • To become longer.
  • Antonyms

    * shorten