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fan (out)

verb

Definition of fan (out)next
1
as in to stretch (out)
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area the accordionist smoothly fanned out the bellows of his instrument as he played

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point most of the city's subway lines fan out from this central station

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fan (out)
  1. extend
  2. radiate
  3. expand
  4. branch
  5. open
  6. flow
  7. unfold
  8. derive
Verb
  • Hossain, who teaches part-time at Smith College, including a course on love and devotion in Bollywood cinema, argues that the pressures her film dramatizes extend well beyond South Asia.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But, as Mosley explained to Fox News Digital, a law passed in North Carolina in 2025 extended the statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits specifically for people who have undergone gender transitions.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of extend
Verb
  • Pidgeon radiates star power in Love Story, but Mulligan is one of the complicated hearts of the second season of Beef.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Andreas brings him to a rich guy’s place, where Luca catches the eye of a flamboyant coke-snorting crossdresser whose affect radiates malevolence.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • In the 1980s some politicians and activists expanded their definitions to include Asian and African groups.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Data center demand meets nuclear power The agreement comes as Google expands its Finnish infrastructure, including its data center in Hamina.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • 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
  • Winterberry is a beautiful specimen tree during the winter months, featuring striking berry colors and a lovely branching habit.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of branch
Verb
  • The fish is barely breathing, though its mouth opens and closes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • SonoLux Montreal finally opened in late 2025, and was designed to be part hotel, part immersive art experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of open
Verb
  • When local issues become national issues Nationalization does not only flow from Washington down.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Prices for most types of petroleum products have gone up since the war with Iran began in late February, amid limits on how much could flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • More than 75 acres unfold around the house, with sweeping views of both the Berkshire and Taconic Mountains.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Never mind if anything that was unfolding on screen amounted to justice.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfold
Verb
  • Both of these tales were derived from the folk legends and mythologies involving witches and ghosts that were still prevalent along the Hudson Valley.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Manchester City revenues derived from UEFA reports, adjusted to remove 'other operating income' and converted from GBP to EUR at prevailing rate.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of derive
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fanny packs
fan (out)
fans
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Cite this Entry

“Fan (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fan%20%28out%29. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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