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
In 1948, the Army named the regiment as its official ceremonial unit and since then The Old Guard, along with some participants from other branches of the military, has annually placed flags at soldiers' headstones. Mike Snider, USA Today, 23 May 2026 Use twine or soft plant ties to attach the branches or canes of sprawling and grabbing climbers to the support structure at regular intervals, tying securely but not too tightly. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Verb
There are newer branching varieties that offer continuous blooms throughout the season. Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 May 2026 Now, the city is split into three Republican-leaning districts, its majority-Black population sliced up and bound to mostly white, rural and conservative communities along lines that branch away from Fowler and Wilson’s East Memphis neighborhood. ABC News, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • Shaggy moved his limbs as instructed, and the carriage slid back and forth.
    Natalie Meade, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Some limbs were trimmed from the large trees that provide shade.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Two fighter jets collided in midair during an air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sunday, CBS affiliate KBOI reported.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 May 2026
  • Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.
    Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • The company operates 17 hydropower facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, and also buys hydropower seasonally from 68 small-scale projects across its service area, according to Bowlin.
    Angela Palermo May 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Chelsea are due to have nine centre-backs, not including the possibility of any new signings, so this is an obvious department for a clear-out.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • Councilmember Mai Vang was against sacrificing the ambassadors and again advocated to cut some long-vacant police department positions which could free up millions of dollars in the budget.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • That matters because the gas inside galaxy clusters constantly radiates energy away in X-rays and should gradually cool over time, and scientists suspect energy released by supermassive black holes, known as AGN feedback, helps reheat that gas and prevent runaway cooling.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 May 2026
  • But while others are outraged on his behalf, and the audience continues to litigate the show’s end, Colbert remains positive and radiates gratitude.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • That’s when Ameritech Mobile Communications, then a subsidiary of AT&T, launched the first commercial cell service in Chicago.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
  • Anderson says open-cell memory foam and a cool-to-the-touch cover help combat heat retention without losing shape, which translates to consistent airflow and support all night long.
    V BRAND STORIES, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • The object no longer belongs to its origin or to its own agency, but to the structures that contain it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • The veteran forward, who came over from the Dallas Wings in free agency, totaled 8 points, six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Nectar is a sweet, syrupy liquid produced in the blossoms, stems and leaves of many plants.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
  • Scholarly conferences have been beset by papers with hallucinated citations, and pre-print clearinghouse arXiv has recently implemented a zero-tolerance ban policy to try to stem the problem.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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