widen
Translation
to make wider, to become wider
Examples
They are widening the road.
They are widening the road.
The river widens at this point.
The river widens at this point.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to make (sth.) wider They are widening the road.
to become wider The river widens at this point.
Similar Words
Synonyms: broaden, expand; Antonyms: narrow, shrink
Etymology
From the adjective 'wide' plus the verb-forming suffix '-en', meaning 'to make' or 'to become'.
Memory Tips
Think of making something 'wide'. The '-en' suffix often turns adjectives into verbs (e.g., short -> shorten).