How to pronounce widely
Say it like WYDE-lee. Widely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WYDE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce widely. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WYDE
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Widely pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WYDESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of widely
American and British speakers say widely in essentially the same way: /ˈwaɪdli/ in the US and /ˈwaɪdli/ in the UK.
British respelling: WYDE-lee.
What does widely mean?
- to a great degree“her work is widely known”
- to or over a great extent or range; far“wandered wide through many lands”“he traveled widely”
- so as to leave much space or distance between“widely separated”
Where does widely come from?
From Middle English wijdly, equivalent to wide + -ly.
Words that rhyme with widely
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of widely.
Questions about saying widely
How do you pronounce widely?
Say WYDE-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈwaɪdli/. In British English it is /ˈwaɪdli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in widely?
Widely has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WYDE). Broken into parts: WYDE · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say widely the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwaɪdli/ and the British form is /ˈwaɪdli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.