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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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
The case is being investigated by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the branch that investigates misconduct involving ICE employees as well as people suspected of falsely representing themselves as agency personnel. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 The two branches of his life no longer have to exist separately. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
In James’s hands, these branching options can seem to amount to distinctions without a difference. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Pink Beach on Komodo Island offers another relatively gentle snorkeling stop, with branching corals and sea fans frequented by parrotfish and anemonefish, among other species. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 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
  • In southeastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island, New York, gusts could be almost as strong, potentially downing tree limbs and power lines.
    — Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Established in 2015, the EAFF aims to help people with amputations or limb defects gain access to amputee soccer throughout Europe.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • The deal also allows Samsung to leverage capabilities across its affiliates, spanning semiconductors and cooling systems to data center construction and batteries, as the group seeks to expand its role in the global AI infrastructure buildout.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • From there, the five networks distribute footage to their local station affiliates and paying subscribers, including The Washington Post, which is a digital subscriber.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • The Middle Patuxent River runs through the property from north to south, fed by numerous tributary streams.
    — Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 20 Sep. 2026
  • While low flows continue to persist in sections of the Colorado River, cold tributaries, deeper-water refuges in narrow canyon reaches, and larger pools provide cool refuges for fish.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • Lam said the label will stay contemporary and will be wholesaled at department and specialty stores.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The county has failed to provide evidence that the quarry owner’s reclamation plan wouldn’t substantially interfere with animals’ movement, wrote Kim Freeburn, an environmental program manager with the department.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • The jet carries 500,000 times the energy radiated by the sun and explains the mystery of how feeding black holes become such powerful cosmic particle accelerators and generate such high-energy gamma-ray photons.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Or, for that matter, whether the grandfather of the Reality-Vigilante-TV Industrial Complex ever felt the level of fear and self-loathing that radiates off Pattinson’s human-flop-sweat of a portrayal.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • In a new study, researchers at New York University built a custom random-positioning machine that continually changed the orientation of human cells relative to Earth's gravity.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Also running is Northwestern University stem-cell researcher Angel Alvarez, 46, who has been an advocate within CPS for better serving students with disabilities.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • Makary's time at the agency was defined by scientific disputes, leadership changes and a string of media stories detailing low morale and internal dysfunction among staffers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The agency said the father and son sustained injuries and were treated at a local hospital.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • Keep the paper bags 2 to 3 inches away from the base of plant stems and tree trunks to prevent moisture buildup and rot.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the White House is attempting to stem the political bloodletting, particularly in these red states, amid discussions regarding diesel export restrictions after a beef tariff suspension announcement in August.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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