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
Rose, a real-estate developer known for reviving the main branch of the New York Public Library and Bryant Park, passed away last year. Clio Chang, Curbed, 24 Apr. 2026 These branches receive molecular signals at one end of a neuron and induce the cell to rapidly fire an electrical charge that ripples down the cell body, known as an action potential. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
This grew into a thriving business that branched into equestrian training and lessons, trail rides and in 1969, vaulting. Laura Ness, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026 The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a spiral galaxy swirling through the darkness of space, emanating an otherworldly glow through its cosmic, branching arms. Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • The victim, who has not been identified, suffered severe crushing injuries to his lower limbs after becoming trapped in a lifting system, local fire authorities told Reuters, citing eyewitness accounts.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Additional details shared via Reuters claimed the worker’s lower limbs were crushed in the collapse.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Impairments on its stakes in its research affiliate and a forestry company contrasted with otherwise solid results from its wealth management, trading and investment-banking operations.
    Takashi Nakamichi, Bloomberg, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Chad Epperson, who had been managing the club’s Double-A Portland affiliate in the Eastern League, will serve as the interim third-base coach.
    Jimmy Golen, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Recent water, fish and sediment samples from Mekong tributaries had high levels of dangerous heavy metals, such as arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium, from rare earth mining, said Warakorn Maneechuket, a researcher at Thailand’s Naresuan University.
    Anton L. Delgado, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Explore the Paraná’s tributaries in the hotel’s launch.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In Florida, though, those disparities result in differences in who went without a dental visit, a flu shot, a colon cancer screening and who ended up in an avoidable emergency department visit.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Richardson said that since resigning as Oregon State’s GM last fall, Bjornstad has remained unemployed, biding his time developing an app for college athletic departments.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Bell, whose screen roles have long radiated decency and sensitivity, channels that guilelessness once more, only to expose it as yet another façade that helps Niall to conceal his darker impulses.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • This X-ray glow is radiated when the heavy ions of the solar wind, like carbon and oxygen, grab an electron from neutral atoms in either our outer atmosphere or the heliosphere.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But while examining the rodent data, Bittner saw that place cells whose dendrites had produced just a single plateau potential began to fire.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Most of your day will be dry with just a couple of slow-moving cells expected to develop through the day.
    Ron Smiley, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Canadian Radio-television Commission was established in 1968 as a federal agency to oversee broadcasting in Canada and in 1976 had its powers expanded to include telecommunications (and the name changed accordingly to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission [CRTC]).
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
  • In the years when the president attends the WHCA dinner, the Secret Service takes over the security for the event, though numerous law enforcement agencies had personnel on site Saturday night.
    Tamara Keith, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The layoffs stem largely from funding changes already set in motion by Los Angeles County, which voted in April 2025 to create its own Department of Homeless Services and Housing, and shift hundreds of millions of dollars away from LAHSA.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Higher electricity costs could dog incumbents Rising electricity rates stemming partially from data centers could spell trouble for the toss-up district Republicans as the politicians attempt to run on an affordability agenda against the backdrop of the Iran war.
    Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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