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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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
First, remove all stems and branches that are dead. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026 The Academy's Awards Committee oversees the rules in tandem with branch executive committees, the International Feature Film Executive Committee and the Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee. Chloe Veltman, NPR, 2 May 2026
Verb
These long-blooming tropicals have a compact, upright habit, and dense branching for big impact in gardens and containers. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026 Both companies began as cryptocurrency trading platforms before branching into the prediction space, which has been dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket. ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • As my sunken heart leapt up, my limbs warmed with joy and relief.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
  • In one ensemble, a mannequin based on Paralympian athlete, model and actor Aimee Mullins wears a pair of Victorian-esque Alexander McQueen boots, which are really prosthetic limbs.
    Jocelyn Noveck, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 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.
    Mike Winters, CNBC, 3 May 2026
  • The Rangers parked their AHL affiliate in Hartford, and the Wolf Pack have endured all these years.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • The dirt-only diamond was loamy and soft and home plate was totally submerged in a muddy puddle, a tributary of which also snaked down the third-base line.
    Chang-rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
  • The simple gym room is equipped with an elliptical, a couple treadmills, and weight-lifting systems, all with views of a glistening tributary of the Cubango River that flows through the property.
    Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The vote requests that the department’s all-civilian watchdog adopt new guidelines similar to San Francisco, which bars police officers from pulling people over for broken taillights and other minor equipment violations unless there is a safety threat.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • This promotion puts him atop the Eagles’ scouting department.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Mosquitoes target spots where heat radiates most, like the head and neck.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
  • That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The exhibit included two amphibious trucks that AT&T personnel have used to cross rivers and floods to restore cell sites, plus a 46-foot-long landing craft that the firm bought two years ago to transport up to 20,000 pounds of larger vehicles and gear.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
  • According to the filing, that process allows male inmates to transfer into women’s facilities and in some cases share cells, bathrooms and showers with female prisoners.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Arizona Public Service has nearly 40 active AI smoke-detection cameras and plans to have 71 by summer’s end, and the state’s fire agency has deployed seven of its own.
    Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
  • The Florida black bear, one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear, is often lauded as a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission success story, though the agency was sharply criticized for staging a hunt of the state’s largest land mammal last year.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • Put stakes or cages in place at planting time and train wayward stems to grow up by threading them through the cage or tying them to the stake weekly.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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