1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
threads branched from the center of the spider web
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
The Academy's Awards Committee oversees the rules in tandem with branch executive committees, the International Feature Film Executive Committee and the Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 2 May 2026
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Just as evolutionary biologists can reconstruct the branching history of a species from its genome, Astromech's engine is intended to explore potential future scenarios for pathogen or tumor evolution under therapeutic pressure.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Noun
First, remove all stems and branches that are dead.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
The Academy's Awards Committee oversees the rules in tandem with branch executive committees, the International Feature Film Executive Committee and the Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 2 May 2026
Verb
Key differences include hollow versus solid stems, branched versus single stems and hairy versus smooth leaves.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Just as evolutionary biologists can reconstruct the branching history of a species from its genome, Astromech's engine is intended to explore potential future scenarios for pathogen or tumor evolution under therapeutic pressure.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
-
As my sunken heart leapt up, my limbs warmed with joy and relief.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
-
In one ensemble, a mannequin based on Paralympian athlete, model and actor Aimee Mullins wears a pair of Victorian-esque Alexander McQueen boots, which are really prosthetic limbs.—
Jocelyn Noveck,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
-
The Rangers parked their AHL affiliate in Hartford, and the Wolf Pack have endured all these years.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The dirt-only diamond was loamy and soft and home plate was totally submerged in a muddy puddle, a tributary of which also snaked down the third-base line.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
The simple gym room is equipped with an elliptical, a couple treadmills, and weight-lifting systems, all with views of a glistening tributary of the Cubango River that flows through the property.—
Samantha Falewée,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The vote requests that the department’s all-civilian watchdog adopt new guidelines similar to San Francisco, which bars police officers from pulling people over for broken taillights and other minor equipment violations unless there is a safety threat.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
This promotion puts him atop the Eagles’ scouting department.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Mosquitoes target spots where heat radiates most, like the head and neck.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
-
That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each cell is stocked with paralyzed tree crickets, katydids and other orthoptera insects.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
But like most cells in the body, B cells can malfunction or not function fully, enabling cancer cells to evade them.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Arizona Public Service has nearly 40 active AI smoke-detection cameras and plans to have 71 by summer’s end, and the state’s fire agency has deployed seven of its own.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
The Florida black bear, one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear, is often lauded as a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission success story, though the agency was sharply criticized for staging a hunt of the state’s largest land mammal last year.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Put stakes or cages in place at planting time and train wayward stems to grow up by threading them through the cage or tying them to the stake weekly.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
