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

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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

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
Congress has hundreds, the executive branch has dozens of executive actions, and market participants have a diverse set of views on how the AI industry should be regulated. — Robert Greifeld, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Applicant Brad McKenzie of Sapp Design Architects filed the request to approve demolition for the library’s main branch, located at 625 Minnesota Avenue, according to the meeting agenda. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 27 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
  • Know Good’s performance were videos of 3D emojis with limbs chasing after flying dollar bills.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Space tracking expert Bill Gray predicts an impact of 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) — seven times the speed of sound — near Einstein Crater on the moon’s sunlit western limb.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Amanda Karolkiewicz was a substitute teacher, children’s book author and advocate for special needs children, NBC affiliate WDIV of Detroit reported.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 28 July 2026
  • StubHub also pays hefty fees to Andro to help sell and service inventory and refers other resellers to an affiliate of the fund that offers financing for bulk ticket sales.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Environmental groups sent a letter threatening to file suit against Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for spills of fuel, sewage and other substances into the Flint River and its tributaries over a period of years.
    — Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • The fun part was reaching every pole in every neighborhood in a town crisscrossed by tributaries of the Albany River.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • City documents say the department is assessing tripled fees for both structural and grading work done without authorization.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn will move to propose measures related to waiving Boston Police Department residency requirements and allowing retired officers to take shifts as the department faces ongoing staffing challenges.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 27 July 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors that are easier to spot — around three per hour as seen from both hemispheres, the American Meteor Society reports.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
  • The Perpetually Composed, radiating calm while your insides are in chaos?
    — Laide Alexander, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • The exact cause isn’t known, but Parkinson’s develops when cells that produce one of the brain’s chemical messengers — dopamine — begin to deteriorate and die.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Along the Atlantic coast of Europe a cancer riddles the golden carpet shell clam, Polititapes aureus, yet genotyping showed its cells are not that clam’s at all.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • Kisner, who also owns Treo Business Consulting marketing agency in downtown Lee’s Summit, has degrees in business and project management.
    — Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • The agency oversees Medicaid's low-cost health coverage for the state's lowest-income families.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Only Burnham, his allies said, could stem the party’s electoral decline in a way that the hugely unpopular Starmer could not.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Thick leaves and stems store water to sustain the plant during long periods without rain.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 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 2 Aug. 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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