# widely

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈwaɪdli/ · frequency rank #2,814

## Definitions
1. In a wide manner; across a wide area.
2. Commonly; generally; to a great degree.

## Etymology
From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to wide + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **wily** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wily)
- **wider** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wider)
- **willy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-willy)
- **Wiley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wiley)
- **widen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-widen)
- **wield** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wield)
- **wildly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wildly)
- **wisely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-wisely)
- **winery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-winery)
- **widest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/widely-vs-widest)
- **wide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wide-vs-widely)

## Common misspellings (9)
`iwdely`, `wdiely`, `widdely`, `widelly`, `widelyy`, `wideyl`, `widley`, `wiedly`, `wwidely`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/widely