1
as in limbs
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
3
as in tributaries
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 departments
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
the two branches of the U.S. Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in radiates
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
threads branched from the center of the spider web
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 branches
Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026
More than 500 Academy members from all 19 branches opted in to read and evaluate the scripts to determine the finalists.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 8 June 2026
Cut down any overhanging branches, especially near windows.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Like Temminck’s pangolin or coequal branches of government, retirement is in danger of going extinct.
—Joshua Rivera, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026
In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
Finally, remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches when pruning to keep your tree healthy.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
From branches above her is released a sudden shower of ash keys, which flutter downwards, whirring in circles, until their wild flight is put to a stop by meeting the water’s surface, where they are apprehended and whisked away downstream.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Bank of America plans to open 150 new branches by 2027 despite the digital shift.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026
More than 500 Academy members from all 19 branches opted in to read and evaluate the scripts to determine the finalists.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 8 June 2026
Cut down any overhanging branches, especially near windows.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Like Temminck’s pangolin or coequal branches of government, retirement is in danger of going extinct.
—Joshua Rivera, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026
In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
Finally, remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches when pruning to keep your tree healthy.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
From branches above her is released a sudden shower of ash keys, which flutter downwards, whirring in circles, until their wild flight is put to a stop by meeting the water’s surface, where they are apprehended and whisked away downstream.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Verb
His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branches
Noun
-
The primary concern locally will be strong to damaging straight line winds capable of bringing down tree limbs and causing isolated power outages.—
Eric Fisher,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
And men are indeed lengthening their limbs, flying to international clinics, having metal rods inserted into their bones, and then, after a brutal recovery process, relearning how to walk.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
The Drillers have suspended their bat dog program, but Gomes said there have been no discussions between the Dodgers and their affiliates about similar promotions.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Nearly 240 million gallons of sewage spilled into the river and its tributaries during eight days after a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line ruptured in mid-January.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Palm Beach County as a whole could lose about $324 million in 2028, which would cut right into the $609 million budget used for 30 departments.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
-
Emergency physicians do not control inpatient staffing, discharge bottlenecks, rehabilitation placement delays, or bed availability, yet emergency departments absorb the consequences when hospitals operate beyond capacity.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Heat radiates from the pages of this extraordinary novel about a poor family in rural Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Your beauty radiates from your core.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Footage from the recent test showed the missile being launched from fully vertical cells, indicating compatibility with shipborne vertical launch systems and suggesting potential cross-platform deployment.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
-
The main purpose is to eliminate dead skin cells and create a smooth surface for the tanning formula to penetrate.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Variations in measurements by different agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
The models have shown themselves adept at finding security flaws in software, creating concerns that adversaries could use them to launch cyberattacks on government agencies, banks and critical infrastructure.—
Cat Zakrzewski The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Remove dead or damaged branches, and cut back any woody stems below the damage to a set of healthy leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
-
In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Branches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branches. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
