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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
What's the difference between 'broaden' and 'widen'...
In my dictionary it stands as the same word but as I guess there has to be a difference right ? :]
Top answer
"Widen" is for both literal and abstract meanings whereas "broaden" is reserved for more abstract sense. For example, you can widen both a road and your knowledge; but you don't want to say you are broadening a road.
- "Widen" is for both literal and abstract meanings whereas "broaden" is reserved for more abstract sense.
- For example, you can widen both a road and your knowledge; but you don't want to say you are broadening a road.
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5 Answers
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"Widen" is for both literal and abstract meanings whereas "broaden" is reserved for more abstract sense.
For example, you can widen both a road and your knowledge; but you don't want to say you are broadening a road.
For example, you can widen both a road and your knowledge; but you don't want to say you are broadening a road.
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Widen" is for both literal and abstract meanings whereas "broaden" is reserved for more abstract sense
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hmm, "broaden his pitch" is the phrase which I read from CNN news recently.
Is pitch an abstract noun here? I think it is a common noun, isn't it?
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hmm, "broaden his pitch" is the phrase which I read from CNN news recently.
Is pitch an abstract noun here? I think it is a common noun, isn't it?
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And yet we say "broad-minded"
I'd say "broaden" can be very abstract too...
I'd say "broaden" can be very abstract too...
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Florazheng,
"Pitch" is a common noun alright (as opposed to proper noun), but is also among abstract nouns - those things that don't have sizes, shapes or colors, something you can't physically touch and see.
When someone broadens his pitch, he is trying to make his case appealing to a broader audience. Can you tell me the size, color, and shape of a pitch ? Can you physical
"Pitch" is a common noun alright (as opposed to proper noun), but is also among abstract nouns - those things that don't have sizes, shapes or colors, something you can't physically touch and see.
When someone broadens his pitch, he is trying to make his case appealing to a broader audience. Can you tell me the size, color, and shape of a pitch ? Can you physical
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