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
The general rule of thumb is to never remove more than about a quarter of the branches at a time. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2026 Office of Management and Budget policy prohibits executive branch officials from commenting on such releases early and in fact forbids public statements until 30 minutes after the release. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Since the Ice Age, elkhorn and staghorn corals off Florida’s southern coast have been stacking their skeletons into elaborate, branching homes for parrotfish, eels and octopuses. Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025 As cord-cutting began shrinking the pay bundle a decade later, the company branched into FAST channels and streaming. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • Ross suffered a cut to his right arm that required 20 stitches, as well as a cut to his left hand that required 13 stitches, according to the affidavit, which includes photos of Ross’s bloody limbs.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
  • One of the dogs had pressure sores on all of its limbs, indicating inactivity, the detective wrote.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Denver will be missing two-way signings Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones, who'll both be putting in reps with the club's G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
  • However, the marketing, promotions and affiliate relations for the shows will transition to SPT at the end of the 2025/2026 season.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This practice had its own history, another tributary to the overshoot conjuncture that weighed heavily on its future course.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To date, this and other restoration efforts have helped to restore oyster reefs across nearly 1,800 acres in ten different tributaries to the bay.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • According to the department, Sutton currently faces three counts of resisting an officer, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, one count of disturbing the peace and one count of criminal trespassing.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • In October the agency fined the police department $153,000 and the sheriff’s office $184,000 for violations related to Rodarte’s death.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The vessel had patrolled during the same years as the Growler but, in 1961, suffered a reactor incident that radiated its crew.
    Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
  • The excitement Moses radiated served as testament to Rhett Lashlee’s assessment of his roster coming together to finish out the season, even after the disappointment of falling short of a return ACC Championship Game appearance.
    Kyle Kensing, Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Hi Lab has unveiled HyDee, a portable hydrogen fuel-cell power unit designed to replace conventional lithium batteries in mobile and off-grid operations, as part of its showcase at CES 2026.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Staff immediately removed him from his cell and provided medical aid.
    Mars King, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • To date, the agency has investigated 408 fatal incidents resulting in 454 deaths on Arkansas highways, state police records say.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The company was also working with Transport for London on a double-decker electric bus, but the agency has yet to place an order.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • When the colorful bracts on poinsettia plants fade, prune them away by cutting the bare stems at a leaf node.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Issues stemmed all season from Eberflus’ reluctance to run man coverage and send blitzes on a consistent basis.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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