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Prepositions after adjectives

wide with different prepositions

Wide combines naturally with several prepositions, but each has a different meaning. Wide of is a fixed expression meaning inaccurate or off target.

Quick answer

Common combinations with wide

Use wide of for something inaccurate or far from the target. Wide in describes extent within an area or dimension. Wide with can describe eyes or openings. Wide for often compares size to suitability. Wide at is uncommon except in measurements.

His guess was wide of the mark.
The river is wide in places.
Her eyes were wide with surprise.
The doorway is too wide for the frame.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
wide of the mark

Talking about errors or inaccuracy

Wide of the mark is a fixed idiom meaning incorrect or far from accurate.

Their estimate was wide of the mark.
2
wide with + emotion

Describing facial expression

With commonly introduces emotions affecting eyes or expressions.

The child stared, eyes wide with excitement.
3
wide for + purpose

Comparing size with suitability

For is used when something is too wide or suitably wide for a use.

The table is too wide for the room.
4
wide in + area

Describing variation by location

In can introduce places or dimensions where width changes.

The road is narrow but wide in the centre.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
wide of
Your answer is wide of the truth.
The answer is inaccurate.
wide with
Her eyes were wide with shock.
An emotion caused a wide-eyed expression.
wide for
The sofa is too wide for the doorway.
The width does not fit the purpose or space.
wide in
The river is wide in the north.
Width is described within an area or region.
wide at
The board is two metres wide at one end.
At can specify a point in a measurement description.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using wide of outside the idiom

Wide of is mainly used in expressions about being inaccurate.

✕ The street is wide of the bridge. ✓ The street is wide near the bridge.

Confusing wide with and wide of

With describes expression or cause; of belongs to the idiom wide of the mark.

✕ Her eyes were wide of surprise. ✓ Her eyes were wide with surprise.

Using at as a general complement

Wide at is limited to measurement contexts.

✕ The room is wide at guests. ✓ The room is wide enough for guests.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. His prediction was wide ___ the mark.
2. Her eyes were wide ___ amazement.
3. The shelf is too wide ___ the space.

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Frequently asked questions

What does wide of the mark mean?

It means inaccurate, incorrect, or far from the truth.

Can wide with describe emotions?

Yes. It commonly appears with eyes or expressions, such as wide with surprise.

Is wide at common?

It is mostly used in measurement descriptions, such as wide at one end.

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