What Does โBroaden sth outโ Mean?
โBroaden sth outโ means to make something wider, larger, or more extensive. It often refers to expanding ideas, physical spaces, or areas of knowledge.
Introduction
The phrase โbroaden sth outโ is a useful phrasal verb in English that describes the action of making something wider or more comprehensive. Whether you are talking about widening a road, expanding your knowledge, or developing an idea further, โbroaden sth outโ fits perfectly. Understanding the broaden sth out meaning helps learners express growth or expansion in different contexts. This phrase is common in both everyday conversations and formal writing, making it important for English learners to master.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: broaden something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to make something wider or more extensive
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBroaden sth outโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between โbroadenโ and โoutโ or after the whole phrase.
- Broaden something out
- Broaden out something
Examples:
- We need to broaden the discussion out.
- We need to broaden out the discussion.
How to Use โBroaden sth outโ?
Use โbroaden sth outโ when you want to talk about making a subject, idea, or physical space bigger or more inclusive. It works well in both literal and figurative contexts. You can use it when discussing plans, knowledge, conversations, or physical areas.
It usually requires an object (something), such as โknowledge,โ โhorizons,โ or โroads.โ
Examples
- The city council decided to broaden the main street out to reduce traffic jams.
- She wants to broaden her skills out by learning new languages.
- Letโs broaden the project out to include more community members.
- They broadened out the research to cover more countries.
- Broaden sth out in a sentence: โWe need to broaden the conversation out to include everyoneโs opinion.โ
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: Broaden out the knowledge.
- Correct: Broaden the knowledge out.
- Incorrect: She broadened out her experience.
- Correct: She broadened her experience out.
Remember, the object usually comes between โbroadenโ and โout.โ
Differences / Synonyms
Broaden sth out vs. Expand: Both mean to make something bigger. โBroaden sth outโ often implies width or scope, while โexpandโ can mean increasing size in any direction.
Broaden sth out vs. Enlarge: โEnlargeโ usually refers to physical size, while โbroaden sth outโ includes non-physical ideas.
Broaden sth out vs. Extend: โExtendโ means to make longer or last longer, while โbroaden sth outโ focuses on width or range.
Common Collocations
- Broaden horizons out
- Broaden knowledge out
- Broaden experience out
- Broaden discussion out
- Broaden the scope out
- Broaden the road/street out
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: We should broaden the project out to include more participants.
Ben: Thatโs a good idea. It will make our results more reliable.
Anna: Exactly. It will also broaden our understanding of the issue.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) We need to broaden out the scope of the study.
- B) We need to broaden the scope out of the study.
- C) We need to broaden the scope out.
Answer: C) We need to broaden the scope out.
FAQs
- Q: Can โbroaden sth outโ be used without an object?
A: No, it usually requires an object to show what is being broadened. - Q: Is โbroaden sth outโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Can I use โbroaden outโ alone?
A: Yes, but usually when the object is clear from context. - Q: What is the difference between โbroadenโ and โbroaden outโ?
A: โBroaden outโ emphasizes making something wider or more extensive, often in scope. - Q: Is โbroaden sth outโ separable?
A: Yes, you can separate the verb and particle with the object.
