fan out

phrasal verb

fanned out; fanning out; fans out
: to spread apart or to cause (something) to spread apart
The police fanned out across the park in search of the suspect.
He fanned out his fingers.

Examples of fan out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The design fans out for more storage and surface area, preventing any precarious piles. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025 There was a swarm of Cowboy fans out in front, not Jet fans, Cowboy fans, and the entire stadium was brimming with the enthusiasm of Cowboys and certainly late in the game. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2025 Police have fanned out to guard synagogues across the country. Alex Leff, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 In some cases, says Gargano, Fox News sales executives fan out to make a pitch directly to a company’s founder. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fan out

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Cite this Entry

“Fan out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fan%20out. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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