Okuzeka
Economics vocabulary · Economic News and Data

Widen

Meaning in economics, with examples

/ˈwaɪdn/verbCommon term

In economics, widen means: To become larger, used for a gap between two figures such as a deficit, the difference between two interest rates or the gap between rich and poor.

In Turkish: açılmak, büyümek, genişlemek

How it is used

Used constantly with deficits and gaps: the budget deficit widened, the current account deficit widened to 4% of GDP, the gap between rich and poor has widened. The noun is widening. The opposite is narrow.

Example sentences

  1. The current account deficit widened to 5% of GDP last year.

  2. The gap between bond yields in the two countries has widened sharply.

Common collocations

  • the deficit widened
  • widen sharply
  • a widening gap
  • widen to
  • narrowTo become smaller, used for a gap between two figures such as a deficit, the difference between two interest rates or a difference in pay.
  • budget deficitThe gap that appears when a government spends more than it collects in taxes and other revenue during a year; it is usually covered by borrowing.
  • current account deficitA shortfall that arises when a country pays more to the rest of the world for goods, services, income and transfers than it receives.
  • trade deficitThe gap that appears when the value of a country's imports of goods, and sometimes services, is greater than the value of its exports over a period.
  • inequalityThe unequal distribution of income, wealth or opportunities between people or groups in a society, or between countries.

More terms: Economic News and Data

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not financial advice.