verbreitern
to widen
To make something larger or more extended in its width.
EXAMPLE
Die Stadt plant, die Hauptstraße zu verbreitern, um den Verkehr zu entlasten.
The city plans to widen the main road in order to ease traffic.
verbreitern
to widen
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Meanings
sich verbreitern
to widen
To become wider by itself.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Engstelle verbreitert sich der Fluss wieder.
After the narrow section, the river widens again.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'verbreitern' (to widen) is derived from the adjective 'breit' (wide). The prefix 'ver-' and the ending '-ern' turn it into a verb meaning 'to make wider.'
EXAMPLE
Die Firma will ihr Produktangebot verbreitern.
The company wants to widen its product range.
Inseparable verb
'Verbreitern' (to widen) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Man hat die Brücke letztes Jahr verbreitert.
The bridge was widened last year.
Transitive vs. reflexive
This verb can be used transitively (someone widens something) or reflexively (something widens itself: 'etwas verbreitert sich'). The reflexive form describes a process that happens by itself.
EXAMPLE
Die Bauarbeiter verbreitern die Einfahrt.
The construction workers are widening the driveway.
Typical collocations
'Verbreitern' (to widen) is often used in the context of construction work ('Straße' = road, 'Weg' = path) or figuratively, e.g. 'seinen Horizont verbreitern' (to broaden one's horizons), 'sein Wissen verbreitern' (to broaden one's knowledge), or 'die Kundenbasis verbreitern' (to broaden the customer base).
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten unseren Horizont verbreitern und neue Kulturen kennenlernen.
We should broaden our horizons and get to know new cultures.
Compare with
verbreitern vs erweitern
to expand
Erweitern means adding a new component to something. Verbreitern, by contrast, refers only to an increase in width. So a road is erweitert by adding a bike path, while its roadway is verbreitert if it is made wider.
verbreitern
Die Stadt verbreitert die Straße von sechs auf acht Meter.
The city is widening the road from six to eight meters.
erweitern
Die Stadt erweitert die Straße um einen neuen Radweg.
The city is expanding the road by adding a new bike path.
In real life
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