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Meaning & use

broader view

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌbrɔːdə ˈvjuː/
US/ˌbrɔːdər ˈvjuː/

Meanings

  1. phrasecountable

    a way of thinking about a subject that includes the whole situation and not just small details.

    Grammar: Usually used with 'a' or 'the': take a broader view of the problem.

    Patterns

    • take a broader view of something
    • get a broader view of something
    • have a broader view

    Before you decide, try to take a broader view of the whole project.

    Reading about other countries gave her a broader view of the world.

    Managers often need a broader view than the people doing the daily work.

  2. phrasesingular

    a wider scene or range that you can see, especially from a high place.

    Grammar: Often used literally about what your eyes can see: from the hill you get a broader view.

    Patterns

    • a broader view of something
    • get a broader view from somewhere

    From the top floor we had a broader view of the harbor.

    Standing on the bridge gives you a broader view of the river.

Common combinations

take a broader view
The committee should take a broader view before cutting the budget.
a broader view of the situation
Her report offers a broader view of the situation.
see the broader view
It is hard to see the broader view when you are tired and stressed.
get a broader view
Travel can help you get a broader view of how other people live.
a broader view of the world
History lessons gave him a broader view of the world.

Synonyms and how they differ

big picture
Informal and often used as 'the big picture'; it focuses on the whole situation rather than details, but it is a noun phrase, not a view you take of something.
wider perspective
Very close in meaning, but 'perspective' stresses your personal point of view, while 'broader view' stresses the range of things you include.
overview
An overview is a short general description of something; a broader view is a way of thinking that includes more of the situation.

Opposites

narrow view

Word family

broad view phrase
A general opinion that accepts many different ideas or possibilities.
broadly adverb
In a general way, without giving all the details.
broaden verb
To make something include more things or cover a wider range.

Commonly confused: broader view or broad view?

broader view vs broad view

'Broad view' often means a tolerant attitude toward other people's behavior, while 'broader view' usually means seeing more of a situation than before.

Practice

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