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

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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
There’s a school, a post office, a bar and a Corn Grower’s State Bank branch, plus the Midwest Farmer’s Coop where growers sell their produce and buy supplies like feed and fertilizer. — Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 There's a school, a post office, a bar and a Corn Grower’s State Bank branch, plus the Midwest Farmer's Coop where growers sell their produce and buy supplies like feed and fertilizer. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
The mycelium—the branching network of microscopic filaments that makes up most of a fungus—has been made into leather alternatives, packaging, insulation and even building materials. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 24 July 2026 But along the way, a single musing can turn into many more, like branching rows of dominoes setting off new lines of inquiry about the world. — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 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
  • The axolotl, which comes from the shrinking wetlands of Mexico City, is known for its rare ability to regrow limbs and other body parts.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Here the picture gets both less clear and, like the gods’ and goddesses’ limbs and faces, more manifold.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • As the affiliate industry grows, particularly for fashion brands and beauty brands which increasingly route a growing share of sales through such links, the answer is getting harder to parse.
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • He was designated for assignment by the Mets in late April and played 16 games for Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk before being released on June 12.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • An ice and rock avalanche from a high-altitude glacier may have triggered the flooding, with a large volume of debris entering the Lende Khola tributary, researchers have said in a preliminary assessment.
    — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Preliminary evidence suggests a large volume of ice and rock may have plunged into the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River.
    — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • Additionally, the department has been coordinating with the Nepali government to assist with the rescue effort.
    — Isabel Danzis, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The department did not immediately respond to The Bee’s request for comment.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Feliciano and Jones radiated energy and exuberance throughout their first press conference as the principal owners of the Padres.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Happy Hours star radiated in a strapless deep purple silk dress with a distressed scoop neckline and asymmetrical draping on her left hip, creating a ruched effect that cascaded down to the ankle-length hemline.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • From a consideration of apoptosis—the orderly elimination of damaged or unnecessary cells—Solé moves on to failing machines, eroded memories, vanished languages, brittle digital archives, and more.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This can lead to the loss of brain cells and contribute to memory and thinking problems, added Johnson.
    — Danielle Zickl, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • Anthropic wanted assurance that its technology would not be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, and the DOD wanted Anthropic to grant the agency unfettered access to Claude across all lawful purposes.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Currently, free agency begins five days after the World Series, with no expiration on when players can sign.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • As for Warsh, investors will look for clues on how the Fed can stem the recent rout in bond prices that has sent yields to multi-year highs.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • And that was despite dealing with external noise stemming leading up to his tenure from when Wisconsin tried to block his transfer request.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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