Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

broaden

[ˈbɹoː.dn̩]

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.30 in modern English

Syllables: broad-en
IPA: [ˈbɹoː.dn̩]

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make broad or broader.

Transitive verb

verb

To become broad or broader.

Intransitive verb

name

A surname from Old English.

Example Sentences

"broaden one’s knowledge"
"broaden the canal"
"Travel broadens the mind."
"The roads gradually broadened as we drove into the countryside."
"Her knowledge broadened after spending a year in South America."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-der.? Proto-Germanic *braidaz Proto-West Germanic *braid Old English brād Middle English brod English broad English -en English broaden From broad + -en (verbal suffix).

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: brād

Regional Pronunciation

American English: [ˈbɹoː.dn̩]
British English: [ˈbɹɔː.dn̩]

Usage

Inflected Forms

broadens (present, singular) broadening (participle, present) broadened (participle, past) broadened (past) Broadens (plural)

Derived Forms

broadenable broadener overbroaden unbroadened unbroadening

Phrases

broaden someone's horizons

Synonyms

widen extend diversify branch out

Rhymes With

auden rawdon bawden sawdon

Questions

How do you pronounce broaden?: The recorded pronunciation is [ˈbɹoː.dn̩].
What does broaden mean?: To make broad or broader.
Where does broaden come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce broaden

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “broaden”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([ˈbɹoː.dn̩]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “broaden”.
Repeat and practice — Say “broaden” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.