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

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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

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
Congress has hundreds, the executive branch has dozens of executive actions, and market participants have a diverse set of views on how the AI industry should be regulated. — Robert Greifeld, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Applicant Brad McKenzie of Sapp Design Architects filed the request to approve demolition for the library’s main branch, located at 625 Minnesota Avenue, according to the meeting agenda. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Verb
Multiply it across roughly a half-million setae per foot, each branching into hundreds of contact points, and the combined force is enough to let a gecko hang from a single toe or sprint upside down across a ceiling. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Hunnam — in his star-turning role as Jax Teller, a member and later president of SAMCRO — branched into film during the show’s final seasons. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 July 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
  • Know Good’s performance were videos of 3D emojis with limbs chasing after flying dollar bills.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Space tracking expert Bill Gray predicts an impact of 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) — seven times the speed of sound — near Einstein Crater on the moon’s sunlit western limb.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Groups backing Stevens spent more than $50 million, led by more than $30 million from AIPAC and its affiliates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • He will be assigned to the Royals’ Class A affiliate in Columbia.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Environmental groups sent a letter threatening to file suit against Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for spills of fuel, sewage and other substances into the Flint River and its tributaries over a period of years.
    — Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • The fun part was reaching every pole in every neighborhood in a town crisscrossed by tributaries of the Albany River.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • At Northwestern University, noncomputer science majors had interest in taking classes in the department even before ChatGPT launched in 2022, but sometimes there wasn’t enough room, said Samir Khuller, the chair for computer science.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • That was more than the budgets of a dozen state departments at the time, and about three times what Michigan paid for its entire state police force.
    — Mark Dee August 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors that are easier to spot — around three per hour as seen from both hemispheres, the American Meteor Society reports.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
  • The Perpetually Composed, radiating calm while your insides are in chaos?
    — Laide Alexander, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Instead of relying solely on natural extracts, Reome works with biotech labs to recreate botanical molecules through processes like fermentation or plant cell cultures.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Jeyne Arryn doesn’t lock people in the dungeon but in sky cells.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • Kisner, who also owns Treo Business Consulting marketing agency in downtown Lee’s Summit, has degrees in business and project management.
    — Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • The agency oversees Medicaid's low-cost health coverage for the state's lowest-income families.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Returns on recent energy investments stem largely from short-term speculation rather than long-term fundamental analysis.
    — , CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Start the refreshing process by cutting 1 inch off your sunflowers’ stems and washing away residue on the ends with running water.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 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 5 Aug. 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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