Definition of outstretchnext
1
as in to extend
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway

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2
as in to lengthen
to make longer having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of outstretch The component sounds of Spanish words, cut down to two vowels and four consonants, are conveyed by whistling, the trick being to curl your fingers against your mouth with one finger outstretched, as if your hand were a gun. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2020 And that’s Bell jogging in to score the winning run with both arms outstretched over his head to give the Diamondbacks their only world championship. — Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, 10 Jan. 2020 As Congress applauded the line, Pelosi stood, outstretched her arms, and clapped slowly and deliberately, as if the clap was more in jest than sincerity. — Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2019 While kicking around a soccer ball, the little princess took a few breaks to balance on one leg with her arms outstretched above her head. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 26 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for outstretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretch
Verb
  • Allen drained it to extend Charlotte’s lead to 20, and then found Dennis Schröder for a high-five as Miami called a timeout.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • L3Harris is pursuing an air-breathing ramjet design intended to improve fuel efficiency and extend engagement distances.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Long-range plans have called for one day to lengthen the Dunes Kankakee Trail 27 miles all the way to Kouts in southern Porter County.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers found that New York state’s season with temperatures suitable for mosquitoes to transmit West Nile virus lengthened by an average of 20 days between 1999 and 2024.
    — Kylee Rae Noel, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The company now plans to expand testing before integrating the engine into a flight vehicle.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Ratan believes this way of expanding is a viable option for his future.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The 49ers scored a touchdown on fourth-and-goal as running back Christian McCaffrey leaped over the pile of linemen and stretched the ball across the goal line, giving San Francisco an early 7-0 lead.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • More specifically, the Base-01 stretches out over a patch of earthen floor measuring 183 sq ft (17 sq m) – about the same amount of floor as this handsome Ikea tiny home.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opened Wednesday across six waterfront venues, welcoming thousands of visitors for day one of what is billed as the world’s largest in-water boat exhibition.
    — Mike Stocker, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Only recently did Spain open its rail network to private companies to compete against Renfe.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Some studies also suggest moving commuting times nearer to dusk in the fall increases the risk of vehicle collisions with deer and other wildlife, which are more active around sunset.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Advance voting has also increased more than 30% from the same point four years ago in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, states with competitive Senate races.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Outstretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretch. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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