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

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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

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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
This is done by cutting back the growing tip of the trunk (called the central leader) during the first winter after planting and selectively removing side branches. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
Riders make their way through a mesa area on Tatooine with options to choose three or four branching paths. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 26 May 2026 Best known for its TurboTax platform, Intuit has branched into accounting with QuickBooks, credit scoring through Credit Karma and email automation via Mailchimp. Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • Strong to severe thunderstorms with brilliant lightning and booming thunder swept through the Kansas City area early Monday, knocking out power to thousands and downing some trees and limbs in the metro.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
  • Their stocky bodies sit low to the ground, and their limbs are muscular.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • As the video drew more attention, protesters gathered at the Shelby Police Department Friday to denounce the officer’s actions and call on the department to take action before he was fired, CNN affiliate WBTV reported.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
  • Carol Ann Beall was arrested in connection with the death of William Reginald Sipfle on Thursday, May 28, and charged with first-degree murder for the death of William Reginald Sipfle, NBC affiliate KVOA and CBS affiliate KOLD reported, citing the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD).
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • The Blue River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which is a main source of drinking water for the region.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
  • In Oregon, the three reservoirs where fishing limits were lifted all store water from the Powder River, a tributary of the Snake River, which flows through the northeast part of the state.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Strauss, who killed himself in 2005, was employed by Ohio State’s athletic department and medical staff for nearly two decades.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
  • Mullin took over from former Secretary Kristi Noem in March after she was fired not long after lawmakers pressed her about the department’s massive spending.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The vibrant floral print of this Vince Camuto Maxi Dress practically radiates vacation energy.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
  • This means any lithium they are born with should be rapidly burned through during the nuclear fusion processes that provide the star with energy to radiate.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Packing more cells onto a slightly bigger ship could usefully increase US capabilities.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • LiPfe offers a new experimental model that enables scientists to work with a structured piece of animal tissue that maintains its own immune activity, cell cycling, and nutrient intake, without ethical concerns that come with experimenting on live animals.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Instead, pluralism, naturally associated with diversity and popular agency, was made into the cultural face of capitalism—it was branded as a false openness mimicking the free market, as a flattening that might cause art and art history to lose the threads of progress and quality.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Aguilar was taken into custody during a SWAT operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Cut flower stems back to leafy foliage after flowers fade to encourage another flush of bloom.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026
  • That NextEra could rack up a string of scandals and still extract multi-billion-dollar rate hikes for FPL stems directly from weak-kneed, inept oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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