branch 1 of 2

noun

ˈbranch How to pronounce branch (audio)
Definition of branchnext
1
as in limb
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in affiliate
a local unit of an organization a bank with many neighborhood branches

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3
as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the two branches of the U.S. Congress

Synonyms & Similar Words

branch

2 of 2

verb

as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point threads branched from the center of the spider web

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 branch
Noun
The Hyundai Motor union is a branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026 Perhaps not for the fainthearted, this involves being gently slapped with oak branches in the sauna before dipping into a bracing cold plunge (rinse and repeat). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026
Verb
These trees have strong branching structures and enough space for students to safely learn different climbing techniques. — Sharon Jean-Philippe, The Conversation, 25 June 2026 The frequency of horizontal gene transfer means that, in addition to the neatly branching trees that relate species by common descent, there are small threads connecting distant branches of the tree of life. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
  1. limb
  2. affiliate
  3. tributary
  4. department
  5. radiate
  6. cell
  7. agency
  8. stem
Noun
  • The sisters’ collective upper limb development also suggests high-intensity, repetitive actions like holding a heavy weapon or pulling a bowstring.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026
  • Most of the participants have lost limbs to infections or traumatic injuries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Landing Go Country as an affiliate adds extra excitement to the launch of the syndication deal.
    — Richard Wagoner, Daily News, 20 July 2026
  • The Blue Jackets have not had an ECHL affiliate since pairing with Kalamazoo during the 2022-23 season.
    — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • The town is worried about the effect the wall would have on a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • By summer 1951, unusually heavy rainfall had overwhelmed existing and newly built flood-control structures along the Kansas, Marais des Cygnes, and Neosho rivers and their tributaries.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • And some legal experts are now questioning whether the department is playing politics in an unprecedented way with a high-profile criminal investigation.
    — Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • But the department still did other daytime road work around town and worked on I-285 in the overnight hours.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Besides the matching outfits, the young princes radiate the same playful energy in their candid photos—taken in 1985 and 2017, respectively.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 July 2026
  • Throughout the evening, the Parrish’s executive director, Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, could be found greeting guests, radiating positive energy and enthusiasm.
    — Vanessa Grigoriadis, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Your body naturally makes CoQ10, a vitamin-like antioxidant that supports energy production in your cells.
    — Sarah Garone, Health, 20 July 2026
  • Ordinary human color vision runs on three types of cone cells in the retina, each carrying a light-sensitive pigment tuned to a different band of wavelengths — roughly short (perceived as blue), medium (green) and long (red).
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • The Young Parents Project will close July 31 after Citrus Health Network, the lead agency overseeing Miami-Dade’s child welfare system and a partner of the program for five years, eliminated its $577,453 contract to help address a budget deficit.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • The sheriff's office said multiple agencies responded by deploying boats and emergency personnel to the scene.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Only Burnham, his allies said, could stem the party’s electoral decline in a way that the hugely unpopular Starmer could not.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Thick leaves and stems store water to sustain the plant during long periods without rain.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of stem

Phrases Containing branch

Browse Nearby Words

brambly
branch
branched
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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Nglish: Translation of branch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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