1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in to radiate
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 branch
Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Blackbeard production ramps up By producing more Blackbeard missiles, Castelion hopes to deploy the weapon across more branches of the military.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Oil and gas resources at Kenli 10-2 are stored in narrow and winding sand bodies beneath the seabed that form branching, tree-like patterns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Noun
Tiny butterflies, identifiable by species, flit among blooming epiphytes; red-breasted meadowlarks take to the air; an emerald-green quetzal perches on a branch.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Blackbeard production ramps up By producing more Blackbeard missiles, Castelion hopes to deploy the weapon across more branches of the military.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Verb
Cut the long stems for a summery bouquet—the plants will branch and produce more flowers.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Oil and gas resources at Kenli 10-2 are stored in narrow and winding sand bodies beneath the seabed that form branching, tree-like patterns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
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
-
Branching is when an eaglet perches on the limb of a tree, and is an important developmental stage that usually occurs when chicks hit 9 weeks old.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The museum, now a Smithsonian affiliate, opened in 1976.—
Greg Allen,
ARTnews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Nelson, 44, was hired as the assistant general manager and scout of the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers' G-League affiliate, in 2020.—
Pat Gallen,
CBS News,
7 June 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
-
The Blue River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which is a main source of drinking water for the region.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The department would eventually sue the medical school if such a resolution is not found.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to put the measure on the ballot, with an allocation plan that will move revenue primarily to nonprofit health care providers and county health departments and hospitals, but also to Planned Parenthood and city health care departments in Pasadena and Long Beach.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The largely peaceful celebration radiated out into the streets around the Garden, with some fans climbing on street signs and jumping on top of vehicles.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Sebring is one of the country’s last remaining circular cities, which means its main downtown district is situated around a circular park from which six avenues radiate.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Chinese eVTOL maker EHang has tested its two-seat EH216-S with lithium-metal solid-state cells developed alongside Inx Energy, logging a 48-minute continuous flight at 480 Wh/kg.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 12,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
-
The connectivity segment also includes the nascent Starlink Mobile direct-to-cell business and Starshield, which military experts say is reshaping warfighting.—
Morgan Brennan,Harriet Taylor,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
State election officials would also be given secure access to citizenship information maintained by federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the State Department.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
The health agency later said that Geo Group refused to allow inspectors to interview facility staff.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The inland taipan’s claim to fame stems largely from toxicological studies showing that its venom is extraordinarily potent in laboratory testing.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
For vibrant purple stems that accent green leaves, opt for the Rainbow variety.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
