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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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
Police stood guard outside branches in what officials described as a precaution against unrest. — Jorge Saenz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026 He is next set to appear Thursday before Judge Kelly Marie McCarthy at the Pullman branch of the Cook County Circuit Court, records show. — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
Robotic claws whispered along branching tracks, clutching boxy carriers beneath them like prizes in an arcade game. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Sellers have cut prices, closed stores, branched into other patriotic merchandise or turned to Trump’s rallies for sales. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 16 Oct. 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
  • Majed Al-Omari, who lost a limb during the war, struggled to make his way between tents on crutches after the rains tore down the wooden frame and plastic sheeting of his shelter.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The film delights in its arborial sound effects, twigs cracking and limbs growing alongside other wood-like appendages.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • She is pictured here as a senior in high school being interviewed by CBS West Palm Beach affiliate while studying to become a pilot.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Nakase also has some NBA experience, becoming an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers’ G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers in 2017.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • It's now known to be in Bear Creek, which is a tributary of the Thornapple River in Kent County, southeast of Grand Rapids.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Yellow River is a tributary, so what happens there affects the Kankakee watershed, too.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • The department also filed a motion in support of a separate lawsuit filed in May that argues California violates national voting laws by failing to sufficiently remove ineligible voters from its rolls.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Gaines said patrol officers and the department’s SWAT vehicle were used to serve the warrant.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • The City of Angels star proved otherwise by uploading several photos of herself in her younger years, followed by a video of herself radiating from the inside and on the outside today.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Even appliances that don’t have an open flame, such as toasters and slow cookers, can radiate enough heat to ignite nearby materials.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Researchers place powdered magnet waste in an electrochemical cell, where an electrolyte such as diluted sulfuric acid provides the medium for chemical reactions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But this time the embryo wasn’t just a collection of cells carrying DNA from her and her partner back in the Netherlands.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • Its effectiveness will depend on how federal agencies identify emerging threats and respond to companies or individuals that cross legal boundaries.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The foundation, which produces major sporting events including the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, saw an opportunity to build on the event’s extraordinary momentum using its experience with corporate partnerships, event production and city agencies.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Cord-cutting continues to eat away at pay-TV levels, even though Charter’s Spectrum systems have integrated streaming services aggressively enough to stem the downturn more than many operators.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026
  • These apple cores, banana peels and grape stems ultimately head to Lovin's outdoor compost bin.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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