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
-
An ice dam occurs when the snow piled on your roof begins to melt from the sun or the heat radiating from your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026 -
The classic, expensive-looking accessory instantly dresses up any outfit, with the intricate design radiating luxury and elegance.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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No human writers’ room or branching narrative system could sustain coherence across vast numbers of individualized storylines.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But building those secondary roads branching down to the city streets and lanes that serve individual homes, that’s the part still to be delivered.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Camp Lucy, a Texas Wine Country resort, is also expanding with the debut of Folklore, a new spa experience blending wellness, color therapy and social connection.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Levine Cava also pointed to Miami-Dade's expanding economy, fueled in part by major international events such as Formula One races at Hard Rock Stadium and upcoming FIFA World Cup matches.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In fact, extending the lives of the sick and elderly can impose net costs on society’s ledgers, costs which government regulatory analyses typically ignore.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The court said the injunction effectively amounted to a universal injunction by extending relief to a sweeping, uncertified class of protesters and observers.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Or another extreme swing of the pendulum, guided by the ultrawealthy closing and opening their wallets?—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cooking down the chicory to the point of jamminess is an eye-opening approach that reveals a world of options beyond salad.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Much of the excitement is unfolding along the Nile.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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However, a new CNBC poll shows some CEOs and executives have kept quiet about the events unfolding in Minneapolis, reflecting that many leaders across the country are still considering the situation — and the risks of making public comments.—
Sharon Epperson,Stephanie Dhue,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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