width - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
width Word Meanings
- the measurement of something from side to side
- extent of something between two points
- the quality of being broad or wide
width Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
width Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/wɪdθ/
US
/wɪdθ/
width Word Etymology
width = wide + -th (suffix for quality). Origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Imagine a vast landscape stretching wide under a clear sky, symbolizing the extensive breadth of width.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place a hand on the doorway and push it open a crack, then pull it wider as I steady my stance. I move a tape along the frame, hold it taut, adjust my grip when it wobbles, and set the edge to two points. The space grows in my mind, and I feel how wide something is as I keep checking from side to side.
Real Context
Width is the measurement of something from side to side, the extent of something between two points, and the quality of being broad or wide. It describes how wide an object or space appears when viewed front on, such as the width of a table, the width of a door opening, or the width of a screen. In usage, width is a physical dimension, separate from length (along the longest direction) and height (vertical). Learners often confuse width with distance, length, or area, especially for irregular shapes. Visualizing a landscape stretching wide helps remember breadth as the opposite of narrow.
Usage Reminders
- Width is a noun; use with of to describe a horizontal dimension.
- Pair width with specific objects: width of the table, width of the door.
- Do not use width as a verb or adjective.
- Differentiate width from length and height in measurements.
- Always include units when giving numeric width, e. g., cm, m, inches.
Common Misconceptions
- Width is not the same as length or height.
- Width is not a distance between two points in general, unless describing horizontal span.
- Width is not the same as area or volume.
- Width does not imply a direction like left or right; it is a measure across a face.
- Width is a noun, not a verb or adjective.
Thinking Differences
In English, width is the horizontal dimension and is often contrasted with length and height; some learners translate width directly into other languages’ words for distance, causing errors about orientation.
Learning Tips
- Visualize width with objects you own to compare side-to-side span.
- Practice with diagrams showing width vs length vs height.
- Use a ruler to measure real items and say the value aloud.
- Compare two objects and state which is wider, not longer.
- Remember units first, then numbers (cm, m, inches).
- Write a few sentences describing the width of a place you know.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'width'?
A.The length of something
B.The thickness of something
C.The height of something
D.The distance across something
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'width' correctly?
A.He painted the width of the wall a different color.
B.She measured the width of the table using a ruler.
C.The width of the box was very tall.
D.They walked the width of the park together.
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a synonym for 'width'?
A.Breadth
B.Height
C.Length
D.Volume
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is an opposite word for 'width'?
A.Thickness
B.Depth
C.Widthwise
D.Narrowness
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life situation would you need to measure the width of something?
A.Measuring a bookshelf to see if it fits in a room
B.Buying a pair of shoes online
C.Baking a cake for a birthday party
D.Watching a movie at a cinema
Related Listening
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