breadth

C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /brɛdθ/ UK /brɛdθ/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
the distance from side to side; wide range or scope

The breadth of his knowledge astonished the examiners.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the distance from side to... width span extent scope range compass amplitude

Opposites

narrowness length

Word family

Forms breadthwise

Related forms broad broadenbreadthways

Etymology

A Middle English alteration (modeled on length) of earlier brede ('breadth'), from Old English brǣdu ('breadth'), from brād ('broad').

brǣdu Old English brād Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction

# breadth

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** brɛdθ
**IPA (UK):** brɛdθ

## Meanings
1. the distance from side to side; wide range or scope

## Examples
- The breadth of his knowledge astonished the examiners.

## Synonyms
- width
- span
- extent
- scope
- range
- compass
- amplitude

## Antonyms
- narrowness
- length

## Related Forms
- broad
- broaden
- breadthways

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: brǣdu
- Root: brād

## Etymology
A Middle English alteration (modeled on length) of earlier brede ('breadth'), from Old English brǣdu ('breadth'), from brād ('broad').

## AI Etymology
Breadth is a noun meaning "the distance from side to side; wide range or scope". Historically, it is a Middle English alteration (modeled on length) of earlier brede ('breadth'), from Old English brǣdu ('breadth'), from brād ('broad'). The historical chain links Old English brǣdu with Old English brād. Close English family members include broad, broaden, and breadthways. This keeps the modern noun sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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breadth

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