Broad vs. Narrow: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 9, 2023
"Broad" describes something wide or extensive, while "narrow" refers to something with limited width or scope.
Difference Between Broad and Narrow
"Broad" and "narrow" are antonyms in English, referring primarily to width but also to scope or range. Broad implies a great width, expansiveness, or comprehensiveness. It's often used to describe physical dimensions, like a broad street or a broad face, but can also be used in more abstract contexts. In contrast, narrow indicates limited width or extent. A narrow alley, for instance, doesn't provide much space from one side to the other.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
In a more abstract sense, broad can denote inclusivity or generality. A broad perspective, for example, considers multiple viewpoints and encompasses a wide range of ideas. On the other hand, narrow can refer to a limited or specific scope. A narrow focus might hone in on one specific area or topic, excluding others. Thus, while broad tends to be more encompassing, narrow is more selective or specific.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
These words can also indicate ranges of acceptability or applicability. Broad guidelines give a lot of room for individual decision-making, because they're designed to apply in a wide range of situations. Meanwhile, narrow are more specific and may be applicable in only specific situations or for specific groups.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Language also uses "broad" and "narrow" in various idiomatic or metaphorical contexts. One might describe a person's accent as broad, meaning it's strong or pronounced. In contrast, narrow can be used to describe a close escape, as in a "narrow escape" from danger. But regardless of whether they're used literally or metaphorically, "broad" always conveys something wide or comprehensive, while "narrow" suggests limitation or specificity.
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Sep 09, 2023
Broad vs. Narrow Comparison Chart
Range of Applicability
Applies in many situations.
Applies in specific situations or to certain groups.
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Sep 09, 2023
Broad vs. Narrow Definitions
◉Broad
Broad can refer to being comprehensive in scope.
She has a broad understanding of the subject.
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Sep 09, 2023
◉Narrow
Narrow can refer to being limited in scope or extent.
His knowledge of the topic was quite narrow.
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Sep 09, 2023
◉Broad
Broad may indicate general without detail.
His description was broad, lacking specifics.
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Sep 09, 2023
◉Narrow
Narrow may suggest being barely achieved or barely avoided.
They had a narrow victory in the game.
Levi
Sep 09, 2023
◉Broad
Broad can suggest wide-ranging and inclusive.
The committee had broad representation from all sectors.
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Sep 09, 2023
◉Narrow
Narrow can indicate being limited in outlook or lacking breadth.
She has a narrow viewpoint on the matter.
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Sep 09, 2023
◉Broad
Broad might describe something that's full or clear in sound or appearance.
He spoke with a broad accent.
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023
◉Narrow
Narrow might mean closely defined or set.
The rules are narrow and strict.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
◉Broad
Having a certain width from side to side
A sidewalk three feet broad.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Relating to or covering the main facts or the essential points
a plan presented in broad outline.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the tongue placed low and flat and with the oral cavity wide open, like the a in father.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A body of water with little width that connects two larger bodies of water.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth.
a narrow hallway
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(figuratively) Restrictive; without flexibility or latitude.
a narrow interpretation
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Having a large measure of any thing or quality; unlimited; unrestrained.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having a small margin or degree.
a narrow escape
The Republicans won by a narrow majority.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(phonetics) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; distinguished from wide.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A narrow passage, especially a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water.
the narrows of New York harbor
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◉Broad
(dated) Gross; coarse; indelicate.
a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humour
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◉Narrow
(transitive) To reduce in width or extent; to contract.
We need to narrow the search.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
(of an accent) Strongly regional.
She still has a broad Scottish accent, despite moving to California 20 years ago.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(of a person or eyes) To partially lower one's eyelids in a way usually taken to suggest a defensive, aggressive or penetrating look.
He stepped in front of me, narrowing his eyes to slits.
She wagged her finger in his face, and her eyes narrowed.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
(UK) A shallow lake, one of a number of bodies of water in eastern Norfolk and Suffolk.
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◉Narrow
(knitting) To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To convert to a data type that cannot hold as many distinct values.
to narrow an
int variable to a short variableMuneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Broad
A British gold coin worth 20 shillings, issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem.
Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed.
The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near{5}; - with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow miss; a narrow majority.
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◉Narrow
Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances.
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◉Narrow
Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views.
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◉Broad
Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; - opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
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◉Narrow
Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish.
A very narrow and stinted charity.
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◉Broad
Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
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◉Narrow
Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact.
But first with narrow search I must walk roundThis garden, and no corner leave unspied.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; - distinguished from wide; as ē (ēve) and Ō (fŌd), etc., from ĭ (ĭll) and Ŏ (fŎt), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, 13.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; - applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; - usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor.
Near the island lay on one side the jaws of a dangerousnarrow.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion.
Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our own solitary reasonings.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others down to them.
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the size of a stocking or other knit article, by taking two stitches into one.
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◉Narrow
make or become more narrow or restricted;
The selection was narrowed
The road narrowed
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
A woman, especially one who is sexually promiscuous; - usually considered offensive.
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
slang term for a woman;
a broad is a woman who can throw a mean punch
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other;
wide roads
a wide necktie
wide margins
three feet wide
a river two miles broad
broad shoulders
a broad river
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
broad in scope or content;
across-the-board pay increases
an all-embracing definition
blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
an invention with broad applications
a panoptic study of Soviet nationality
granted him wide powers
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
not detailed or specific;
a broad rule
the broad outlines of the plan
felt an unspecific dread
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view;
a brilliant but narrow-minded judge
narrow opinions
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◉Broad
lacking subtlety; obvious;
gave us a broad hint that it was time to leave
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◉Narrow
characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
a minute inspection of the grounds
a narrow scrutiny
an exact and minute report
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
very large in expanse or scope;
a broad lawn
the wide plains
a spacious view
spacious skies
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May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Narrow means having a small width in relation to length.
The narrow pathway led to the garden.
Jonathan
Sep 09, 2023
◉Broad
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness;
a broad political stance
generous and broad sympathies
a liberal newspaper
tolerant of his opponent's opinions
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May 03, 2023
◉Broad
Broad means having a large extent from side to side.
The river was broad and slow-moving.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Broad vs. Narrow Frequently Asked Questions
How do broad and narrow relate to guidelines or rules?
Broad guidelines are more general, while narrow guidelines are more specific.
Lucas
Sep 09, 2023
What does broad generally imply in terms of space?
Broad typically describes something as wide or expansive.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Do the terms have idiomatic meanings?
Yes, for example, a "broad accent" means a strong accent, while a "narrow escape" means a close escape from danger.
Lucas
Sep 09, 2023
And what does narrow refer to in terms of space?
Narrow indicates something with limited width or scope.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
How about narrow in literature?
Narrow can describe confined spaces, like narrow hallways, or specific and focused themes or topics.
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Sep 09, 2023
And what would a narrow mindset imply?
A narrow mindset implies being limited in perspective or not open to other viewpoints.
Leo
Sep 09, 2023
Can broad and narrow be used to describe abstract concepts?
Yes, broad can mean inclusive or general, while narrow can mean specific or limited in scope.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
In terms of mindset, what does a broad outlook mean?
A broad outlook means being open to various ideas and perspectives.
Leo
Sep 09, 2023
In literature, how might broad be used?
Broad can be used to describe settings, like a broad landscape, or to describe wide-ranging themes.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Can these words be used interchangeably?
No, broad and narrow are antonyms and convey opposite meanings.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
