width

width — noun

1. the measurement of how far apart two opposite edges of an object or a space are,

1.nounB1
Definition

the measurement of how far apart two opposite edges of an object or a space are, usually taken across the shorter side

Example

Our living room has a <hw>width</hw> of four metres — enough for a sofa.

has a width of + measurement

Ada measured the <hw>width</hw> of the window frame before ordering the new curtains.

measure + the width of [noun]

Common collocations
  • measure the width
  • the width of something
  • in width
  • full width
  • width and length
Synonyms
  • breadth

    more formal or technical, common in descriptive writing

  • span

    suggests the full distance from one end to the other, often used for bridges, wings, or arches

Antonyms
  • length

    the longer measurement of an object, at right angles to width

  • depth

    the measurement from front to back or top to bottom

Grammar Patterns

the width of + object

[number] + unit + in width

Usage Note

Width is measured horizontally across the shorter dimension of an object, at a right angle to its length. The pattern 'the width of + noun' is the most common structure.

Common Mistakes

The table's wide is one metre.
The table's width is one metre.
'wide' is an adjective; 'width' is the noun form.

2. how far it is from one long side of a pool to the opposite long side, used mainl

2.nounB2
Definition

how far it is from one long side of a pool to the opposite long side, used mainly in swimming

Example

Salma swam two <hw>widths</hw> of the pool during her morning warm‑up.

swim + [number] + widths

The coach asked the children to swim one <hw>width</hw> without stopping.

swim one width

Common collocations
  • swim a width
  • one width
  • four widths
  • width of the pool
Synonyms
  • lane

    refers to the marked swimming corridor, not the distance across

Antonyms
  • length

    the longer end‑to‑end distance of a swimming pool

Grammar Patterns

swim + [number] + width(s)

a width of the pool

Usage Note

In swimming contexts, 'width' contrasts with 'length': a width goes across the pool (the shorter distance), while a length goes from one end to the other (the longer distance).

Common Mistakes

She swam five lengths of the pool' (when the speaker means across).
She swam five widths of the pool.
'length' is end‑to‑end; 'width' is side‑to‑side.

3. a piece of fabric, wallpaper, or other material cut or manufactured to a standar

3.nounB2
Definition

a piece of fabric, wallpaper, or other material cut or manufactured to a standard measurement across its shorter side

Example

Chiara bought two <hw>widths</hw> of cotton for her long bedroom curtains.

[number] + widths of [material]

This <hw>width</hw> of silk covers the dining table without needing a seam.

[determiner] + width of [material] + verb phrase

Common collocations
  • single width
  • double width
  • width of fabric
  • width of cloth
  • two widths of material
Synonyms
  • bolt

    refers to the entire roll of fabric, not a single cut piece

Grammar Patterns

[number] + width(s) of + material

a single/double width of [fabric]

Usage Note

Used mainly in sewing, upholstery, and wallpaper hanging. Standard fabric widths are typically 115 cm (45 inches) or 150 cm (60 inches). 'Double width' means the material is twice the standard width, useful for wide items like curtains.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe a measurement from one side to another. Width is the everyday, neutral word — you use it for furniture, rooms, roads, and any object where you need the shorter horizontal distance. Breadth is more formal and literary; it appears in descriptive prose ('the breadth of the river') and abstract uses ('the breadth of her knowledge'). Span emphasises the full stretch from end to end, often over a gap or opening — a bridge span, a wingspan, or the span of an arch. In practical measurement: 'Check the width of the doorway before buying the fridge' (everyday). 'The breadth of the canyon impressed the hikers' (descriptive). 'The span between the two pillars is six metres' (structural).

width ↗breadthspan ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • in width
  • the width of
  • width and length
  • width and height

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English from 'wide' (from Old English 'wīd', meaning large from side to side) plus the noun‑forming suffix '‑th' (seen also in 'length', 'depth', 'strength'). The word first appeared in the 16th century, gradually replacing the older term 'wideness'.