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

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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
Senate Bill 1047 would require the California Neurodegenerative Disease Registry, a branch of the California Department of Public Health, to collect data on FTD. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 But the decision has sparked intense pushback from Ballantyne residents who view the Morrison branch as a vital community cornerstone. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Multiply it across roughly a half-million setae per foot, each branching into hundreds of contact points, and the combined force is enough to let a gecko hang from a single toe or sprint upside down across a ceiling. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Hunnam — in his star-turning role as Jax Teller, a member and later president of SAMCRO — branched into film during the show’s final seasons. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 July 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
  • Many people with vibriosis can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Debris Tree limbs, broken glass, metal, trash, or other materials could fall into or around the water during a storm.
    — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Others have affiliate relationships with travel agents or have started their own travel agencies to capitalize on their audience.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • An investigation found there was no credible threat, the sheriff’s office said, according to CNN affiliate WFOR.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Presidio is protected by a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chesapeake Bay tributaries are important spawning areas, producing between 70% and 90% of the coastwide population of striped bass.
    — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • Malte Krueger, a PhD who leads the sports science department at Bayer Leverkusen, heard about Biolyz’s trials at Dortmund and knew a couple of guys working as consultants with the startup.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than install a conventional luxury department-store anchor, Fontainebleau chose a retailer built around ease and joyful discovery.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • Everything on the premises radiates with July heat, from the bleachers surrounding the course to the DIY rig near the ticketbooth inveigling passersby to pull a string that sends a gout of fire into the air.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
  • His prose radiates an ecstatic pessimism, as if lit up from within by the relief of not having to sugarcoat things with comforting lies.
    — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • About 1,100 square feet of the building would be used for temporary holding cells and a detainee shower.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Schrell examined whether annual production campaigns would be more effective, but concluded that the approach would not make economic or operational sense because of costs, limited hot-cell capacity and the isotope’s relatively short half-life.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • The agency predicted strong winds, heavy rain and high waves in the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging residents in the area to stay indoors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In many ways, staffers say, the shooting was a manifestation of an attack the agency was already feeling.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Returns on recent energy investments stem largely from short-term speculation rather than long-term fundamental analysis.
    — , CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Start the refreshing process by cutting 1 inch off your sunflowers’ stems and washing away residue on the ends with running water.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 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 11 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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