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
Dozens of residents showed up to the meeting, held at the library’s Westport branch, and had to be brought into the conference room in waves. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Every branch of the Television Academy collectively deemed it one of the year’s eight best dramas. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 July 2026
Verb
These trees have strong branching structures and enough space for students to safely learn different climbing techniques. — Sharon Jean-Philippe, The Conversation, 25 June 2026 The frequency of horizontal gene transfer means that, in addition to the neatly branching trees that relate species by common descent, there are small threads connecting distant branches of the tree of life. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 16 June 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
  • Please send your reports of hail or wind damage, including trees or large limbs downed, by calling the National Weather Service office in Wilmington at 1 800 697 3901.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026
  • An email photo showed the declining limbs in what appears to be shade from a nearby tree and the bottlebrush.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Crawford is hoping to work his way up to an affiliate, but finishing this season healthy would be a massive victory in and of itself.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • The department said the tragedy is an important reminder to drivers to always make sure children are not left in cars, especially in hot weather.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
  • Additional details are expected to be released on Monday, the department said.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Those tendrils are formed from plasma, or ionized gas, at temperatures in excess of a million degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the sun's visible surface, the photosphere, which radiates at about 9,932 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius).
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 July 2026
  • Throw in an eye mask, too, as the yurts radiate with beams of early morning sunlight from the skylight.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Other theories suggest that certain cells within the abdomen may transform into endometrial-like tissue, while some evidence points to stem cells or developmental changes that occur before birth.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • This type of inflammation may damage blood vessels, injure nerve cells and activate immune cells within the brain, all of which may contribute to cognitive decline.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • The impact also is big for the nonprofits, many of which are smaller agencies that offer services for specific populations.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • Professional groups representing cancer researchers, civil engineers, county governments, medical schools, housing agencies, city and municipal governments, nonprofits and others have publicly expressed concerns about potential consequences.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • The debate stems over a Federal Communications Commission action on June 29 that advanced the company’s plans, over the objection of California regulators, many residents and Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • The name change likely stemmed (in part, at least) from the fact that Amazon Prime Video series Harlan Coben’s Lazarus beat it to market.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 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 12 Jul. 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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