1
as in spreading (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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in radiating
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 fanning (out)
Verb
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For patrician statesmen, grandeur is usually understated, radiating restraint rather than gawk-inspiring shows of brazen wealth.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026 -
On the water, the 55-year-old mother seems to come alive, her adventurous spirit radiating outward, lighting her from the inside out.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These long-blooming tropicals have a compact, upright habit, and dense branching for big impact in gardens and containers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
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Both companies began as cryptocurrency trading platforms before branching into the prediction space, which has been dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From global dishes to comfort food classics, many supermarkets now offer — and are expanding — buffet-style prepared foods that rival takeout in both variety and convenience.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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While the business itself operates within the expanding private credit market, an asset class that has drawn significant institutional capital in recent years, the partnership behind it remains its most distinctive feature.—
NIa Bowers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Also in Lake County, the City of Groveland went through a similar process last year with over 69% of voters choosing to support an ordinance extending council terms from two years to four years and impose term limits for council members and the city’s mayor.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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As survivors watch lawmakers lock horns over the Iran war and the record-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown, some worry extending disaster tax relief will be de-prioritized.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After some spring training struggles, a season-opening assignment to Triple-A and a pair of forgettable starts, the pitcher is happy to have a scoreless start under his belt.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
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TokyoReuters — Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Created by Santino and Nick Kreiss (Punk’d, The Eric André Show), The Bad Game Show drops celebrities into a chaotic mix of trivia and absurd challenges, where surprise guests crash the game and nothing goes as planned, all unfolding inside Lee’s mom’s basement.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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Voice messages announcing deaths are layered over static shots of an empty home, echoing her own experience of events unfolding.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fanning (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanning%20%28out%29. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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