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
For the past 40 years, thousands of people have fanned out across beaches, lakes, streams and parks every September for California’s Coastal Cleanup Day — the state’s largest annual volunteer event.
—
Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
For the special occasion, Sweeney wore a light pink Erdem gown that cinched at the waist and gathered at Sweeney's hip with a red detail before fanning out into a small train.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Her dark hair fans out in slick discordant plumes, like mine.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Dans Locmelis made a quick fan out of Providence Bruins coach Ryan Mougenel last spring.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fan out
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Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
For the special occasion, Sweeney wore a light pink Erdem gown that cinched at the waist and gathered at Sweeney's hip with a red detail before fanning out into a small train.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Her dark hair fans out in slick discordant plumes, like mine.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Dans Locmelis made a quick fan out of Providence Bruins coach Ryan Mougenel last spring.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fan out
Cite this Entry
“Fan out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fan%20out. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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