branch 1 of 2

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

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
Their results depend heavily on how much mass the sun sheds during the asymptotic giant branch phase, a quantity that is still difficult to predict. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026 Last year, South Bend, Valparaiso and Lake County’s Ivy Tech branches partnered with Amazon Web Services to create a similar pipeline from classroom to data center careers. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Verb
Despite Wollny's success here, developers are considering branching these legacy drivers so Mesa can continue to be developed without risking breaking older cards that don't support newer features. Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026 On June 2, Sandy also branched for the first time. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • Photos also showed the bees crowding on nearby trees, weighing down on some tree limbs and branches.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • There are also two bear pendants with movable limbs — the $32 Felix and the $52 Frankie.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • While the Athletics hosted the Angels in Sacramento, their Single-A affiliate minor league team, Stockton Ports, hosted lots of dads who were excited to take their kids, young and grown, out to the ball game.
    Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • Marte, who spent two seasons with the Phillies as an inconsistent but frequently used bullpen arm during their recent playoff runs, will join the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • That compact was adopted in 1943 by Colorado, the headwaters of the Republican and several tributaries, and Nebraska and Kansas, the two down-river states.
    Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
  • The water, too, was wild—the Allegheny and its tributaries had yet to be dammed, and Flag Swamp was noted as one of the last hideouts for beavers in the state.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The officer with the York City Police Department was placed on administrative leave after the shooting on Tuesday, the department said in a news release on Wednesday.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • Dissolving the department entirely requires an act of Congress.
    Alia Wong, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Her lips amplified her glow, painted in a romantic glossy pink ready to radiate light.
    Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 20 June 2026
  • Their voices capture the nostalgia, warmth and joy that radiate from their characters and the movie as a whole.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Cleavotta Morgan said her son, Daejon Morgan, called her every day from his cell at Men’s Central Jail.
    Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Traditional robotic work cells often require complete shutdowns when workers enter restricted areas, creating downtime that can accumulate across large manufacturing operations.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Bonta, alongside a multi-state coalition of attorneys general, filed another lawsuit against the agency in response.
    Haley Parsley June 22, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
  • Neither agency responded immediately to USA TODAY's request for comment.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Only Burnham, his allies said, could stem the party’s electoral decline in a way that the hugely unpopular Starmer cannot.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • The arching stems and feathery plumes of ornamental grasses make a fantastic partner to the dense flower power of dahlias in late summer.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster