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
-
There’s a bohemian vibe radiating from Serena & Lily’s Kittery rug, but the rigid grid motif lends the design some structure, a detail that can appeal to more formal design personalities.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026 -
Grayson is a strong and beautiful presence, radiating warmth, humor, and style, and sporting a wide range of talents.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The current inscribes some victims’ skin with mysterious scarlike patterns called Lichtenberg figures, which resemble the limbs of a barren tree—or the branching structure of lightning itself.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Prune to establish a strong structure of old wood and branching to support a healthy plant with new green growth.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The scandal is now expanding into an international investigation, placing Miami at the center of a complex web of shell companies, offshore transfers and opaque financial flows.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The rollout will start in Charlotte before expanding to Chicago and Milwaukee.—
Chase Jordan
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Congress anticipated those rising costs and debated extending the enhanced premium tax credits toward the end of last year.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
San Antonio had six players score in double figures while extending its lead to 29 points in the third quarter.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His parents prospered, opening a fur shop called Paris-New York and moving to the tony Sixteenth Arrondissement.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Harris Theater for Music and Dance has announced its 2026-27 season of dance, music and theater, its 20th anniversary season in Millennium Park, opening with a visit from the Trisha Brown Dance Company in September.—
Doug George,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sarah Marlow, global head of fertiliser pricing at Argus, agreed that the unfolding crisis in the Middle East would have a bigger impact on the fertilizer trade than the Russia-Ukraine war.—
Chloe Taylor,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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As China’s fashion market recovers, that momentum is unfolding against a shifting backdrop.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
24 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 2026.
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