Word of the Day: Broad
If something is broad, it’s wide. The word “broad” is an adjective.
- The roads in this city are very broad.
- A sidewalk should be broad enough for two people to walk side by side.
- Our teacher has a broad knowledge of American literature.
- Doctors have a broad understanding of how the human body functions.
- Broad shoulders make a man or a woman look more powerful.
- A broad smile spread across the woman’s face when she learned she was the winner of the contest.
- A man had his car stolen in broad daylight. (broad daylight = during the day as opposed to night)
The word “broaden” is a verb.
| simple | past | past participle |
|---|---|---|
|
broaden
|
broadened
|
broadened
|
- Traveling is a good way to broaden your knowledge of the world.
- You can broaden your horizons by going to college. (broaden one’s horizons = to be exposed to new ways of thinking)
- Working with elderly people can broaden your horizons.
- The highway was broadened in order to accommodate more cars. (The highway was made wider.)
The word “broad” is found in some compound nouns:
- A live radio or television broadcast can capture the attention of millions of people.
- Broadway is an area of New York City where theater goers can watch live theatrical productions.
- Many American cities have a street named Broadway.
- Broadband internet provides fast downloads and uploads.
- The broad jump is an athletic event in which a person jumps to achieve a long distance.
- A dandelion is a broadleaf weed.
Note: The word “broad” is also a derogatory term for a woman. It’s use is out of fashion, but you might hear it used if you ever watch old American movies: She’s a very smart broad.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with B page to see the list of all words starting with letter B. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
