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
If branches of the tree containing a mutation of interest appear very flat, that possibly indicates rapid recent rise in the frequency of the mutation. — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Even better, branches of the Hellman Institute are located worldwide. — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Pencil Cactus Despite its branching shape, pencil cactus is a succulent that stores water in its stems, says Aviles. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026 Moor explains how this form of thought emphasizes branching, growth, and pruning, as opposed to hierarchical ordering, and shows how these principles can be identified in the work of writers like Tolstoy and Wordsworth. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 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
  • Power flows immediately on contact and cuts out the second the limb lifts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
  • After its manufacturer withdrew it in 1961, more than 10,000 children were found to have been born with severe malformations, in which their limbs were shortened or failed to form.
    — Mallory Green, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Personal loans are available through our affiliate, Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS#227977) and are originated by Cross River Bank, Delaware Branch, an equal housing lender.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Footage taken from an overhead drone by NBC affiliate WBBH shows a bare layer of roof across three buildings that are part of the sprawling hotel property.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Salmon born in its tributaries migrate to the ocean, spend years feeding at sea, then return to spawn, linking villages like Rampart to the same waters where the pollock fleet fishes.
    — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The team would be making camp at the confluence of the Barrancas and one of its tributaries.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • The produce department features tropical fruits such as jackfruit, dragon fruit, mangoes, sweet tamarind and durian, alongside a large selection of Asian vegetables and a wide variety of mushrooms that can compete with any local farmer’s market.
    — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, a member of the education department treats his organization and financing with suspicion, despite having already left him to his own devices.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • The surrounding countryside, by comparison, was littered with large numbers of trees that were toppled as the shock waves produced by the exploding asteroid high above radiated downward.
    — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The film’s focus on the strange and unprecedented power dynamics in an industry that’s hurtling forward at all costs radiated off-screen as well.
    — Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Her heart cells had been infected with parvovirus B19, the virus that more commonly causes Fifth Disease.
    — Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Whole wheat toast offers measurable amounts of selenium and manganese, micronutrients that support reproduction and protect against cell damage.
    — Trista Chan, HEALTH, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • State agencies, including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, have helped local officials with damage assessments and power restoration, among other tasks.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But Khan has also invested in bringing in a much broader array of companies and government agencies, so tenants from outside financial services now account for almost half of his office space.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • When talks began, many firefighters saw the contract negotiations as an opportunity to stem the departures.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • From 2014 through 2024, stem counts for milkweed increased by 108 million, according to a UIC Sustainable Landscapes report submitted in April to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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