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
Just look to those Sophie Lou Jacobsen coupes—with brims fanning out like delicate flower heads—as an example.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2025
From the lab to the front lines Within months of Rubicon’s establishment, its units were fanning out across the front lines with a new generation of drones, turning the tables on Ukrainian forces.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
As Border Patrol agents fan out of Charlotte and fear lingers from days of federal immigration enforcement across the region, Bishop Michael Martin is urging Catholics to confront the moment through the lens of faith, not politics.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 21 Nov. 2025
Federal agents detain dozens in North Carolina The mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, said that federal agents would be continuing their operations in the area Tuesday after Federal agents fanned out across nearby Charlotte over the weekend, detaining more than 130 people within about 48 hours.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fan out
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Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2025
From the lab to the front lines Within months of Rubicon’s establishment, its units were fanning out across the front lines with a new generation of drones, turning the tables on Ukrainian forces.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
As Border Patrol agents fan out of Charlotte and fear lingers from days of federal immigration enforcement across the region, Bishop Michael Martin is urging Catholics to confront the moment through the lens of faith, not politics.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 21 Nov. 2025
Federal agents detain dozens in North Carolina The mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, said that federal agents would be continuing their operations in the area Tuesday after Federal agents fanned out across nearby Charlotte over the weekend, detaining more than 130 people within about 48 hours.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 18 Nov. 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 29 Nov. 2025.
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