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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Relevance
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
Xcel has to be sure the lines are OK and free of branches and other objects before turning the electricity back on, Kenney said. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026 Peaches and nectarines should be thinned so that fruit is 5-7 inches apart on the branch. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
In nature, the same branching logic can be seen in river networks, trees and the human lung. Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 These nerve cells develop alongside structural tissues, forming branching connections throughout the autonomous beings. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • Some of the most memorable gardens—the ones that make the heart sing—are the ones in which the homeowners have gone passionately out on a limb to realize a vision.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2026
  • As a bare stage swiftly gets dressed in black curtains framing its sides, rumblings fester in the dance ensemble’s torsos and limbs; Danker’s music becomes increasingly driving, propulsive (and painfully loud—an issue that persists through most of the evening).
    Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
  • While the Sacramento Kings won't be competing in the playoffs, their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, has been doing otherwise.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries.
    Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Khartoum, a metropolis of 7 million, sits at the confluence of tributaries, a sort of Pittsburgh-on-the-Nile.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The department is now pushing for licensure and regulation, saying there are more than 400 ABA facilities in Colorado.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Tan was alluding to accusations and suspicions — which have been denied by the city and police department — about the ALPR data being accessed by federal authorities and immigrations agents in violation of state law and Santa Clara County’s sanctuary policy.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Regardless, the influence of Amazing Stories’ founding in 1926 radiated throughout the genre’s history like the light through Bradbury’s grandparents’ window, with authors who had their debut in Amazing Stories running the canonical gamut from Asimov to Zelzany.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Parenthood alum discussed his father Dave Shepard's longtime health struggles and addiction journey, culminating in a diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma in 2012.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
  • What's more, fiber is essential for digestion, while lignans protect cells from oxidative stress.
    Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The agency added that even a small amount of exposure to lead paint can harm adults.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The legal grey area has apparently even made Frontex, the EU border control agency, uncomfortable.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • An abrupt increase with lasting impacts The ceasefire reached earlier this week stemmed some fears that the conflict could drastically deepen or even come to a resolution sooner than later.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Republicans at the state and federal levels have long hammered Walz for failing to stem fraud in the state, which came to the fore in 2022 during the Feeding Our Future scandal.
    Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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