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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
  • Turkish authorities have also blocked access to websites and social media accounts belonging to various LGBTQ+ associations, individuals and independent media outlets, including the X account of Amnesty International’s Turkey branch.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The region’s chief minister, who heads the executive branch, will be elected by parliament in its first session.
    — Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • Blue is a giant stick figure with what seems to be four limbs, standing on what might be one leg, while the other is lifted.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There are also the journalists, the athletes, and the kids who spend sunny days doing contact improv, which was invented at Oberlin, tangling their limbs in the grass outside the library.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of limb

Browse Nearby Words

bottoms
bough
boughs
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Cite this Entry

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

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