bough

noun

ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bough (audio)
Definition of boughnext
as in branch
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 bough The day was otherwise cheerful; sunshine dappled through evergreen boughs. — Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026 Then use dead leaves, small boughs, or wood chips to fill in open spaces and make the bottom layer roughly level with the stump. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026 Laying the boughs over perennial beds for the winter to afford them protection from cold and wind. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026 Spray the underside of the branches, focusing on the cut ends of the boughs, Hunter says, because that’s where the moisture can be absorbed the fastest. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bough
  1. branch
  2. limb
Noun
  • Delete an unused import, flag, branch, endpoint or dependency, or eliminate a comment, test or workaround that no longer reflects reality.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Benson says her achievements in her current role as secretary of state include upgrades to online services, cutting average wait times of in-person visits and creating self-service stations at branch offices and grocery stores.
    — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • Your deep veins run within the muscles of your arms and legs, carrying most of the blood returning from your limbs to your heart.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Once the machine has sucked in the shade-giving limbs and age-ringed trunk, a new development rises from the mulch.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of limb

Browse Nearby Words

bottoms
bough
boughs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bough. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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