Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wide berth

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.43 in modern English

Syllables: wide berth
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Adequate distance from sea vessels or other objects to ensure safety and maneuverability.

noun

A considerable or comfortable distance from a person or object, especially for safety or deliberate avoidance.

Example Sentences

"Steer to port and give the rocks a wide berth."
"Our cat always gives the vacuum cleaner a wide berth."
"He's so obnoxious that everyone gives him a wide berth."
"One [sheep] was "bagged" but gave the rest of the train a wide berth and appeared only somewhat shaken."
"Only Samantha escaped with her dignity intact, because she gave the series a wide berth."

Inflected Forms

wide berths (plural)

Questions

What does wide berth mean?: Adequate distance from sea vessels or other objects to ensure safety and maneuverability.

How to pronounce wide berth

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wide berth”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “wide berth” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.