broad and wide

Physical distance

To talk about the physical distance from one side of something to the other, we more often use wide.

• The old city has very wide streets.
• The car’s too wide for the garage.

Broad can also be used in this physical sense, especially in more formal descriptions.

• Across the broad valley, the mountains rose blue and mysterious.
• She wore a simple green dress with a broad black belt.

Note also: broad shoulders; a broad back; wide eyes; a wide mouth.

Wide is used in expressions of measurement; note the word order.

• The river is about half a mile wide. (not … wide half a mile.)

Abstract meanings

Both words can express more abstract meanings. Common expressions:

• broad agreement (= agreement on most important points)
• broad-minded (= tolerant)
• broad daylight (= full, bright daylight)
• a wide variety/range (of opinions, etc)

note

For other common expressions with broad and wide, see a good dictionary.