Cool MateExtensively vs Widely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extensively
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Widely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Extensively | Widely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstensɪvli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstensɪvli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwaɪdli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwaɪdli/"]/ |
| Meaning | In a very detailed and wide-ranging way. | A word that means many people or places. |
| Example | She has travelled extensively. | The concept of democracy is widely accepted around the world. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | research extensively, study extensively, travel extensively, document extensively | widely accepted, widely regarded, widely available, widely used, widely known |
| Antonyms | superficially, shallowly | narrowly, limitedly |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'intensively' which means deeply focused but not necessarily wide in scope., Using it in a sentence where the action isn't broad or detailed enough., Incorrectly using it as a noun instead of an adverb. | Confused with 'widely-known' as if it means the same thing., Using 'widely' when talking about one specific place or person., Misplacing 'widely' in a sentence, making it unclear. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extensively' when describing actions that are done in-depth or in a large scope. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but may feel overly formal in casual conversations. | Use 'widely' to describe something that is common or popular in many areas. It is not typically used in very formal writing or speech. |
Frequently asked questions: Extensively vs Widely
What's the difference between Extensively and Widely?
Extensively: In a very detailed and wide-ranging way. Widely: A word that means many people or places.
Are Extensively and Widely the same CEFR level?
Extensively: B2, Widely: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Extensively and Widely interchangeably?
Not always. Extensively and Widely are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.