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
-
Some designs add a pattern of reflective material to the outer shell to keep heat from radiating out into the cold air.—
Longji Cui,
The Conversation,
26 Dec. 2025 -
Doherty is radiating positive energy.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Now is the time to prune back stems to create a uniform, fuller shape and promote branching for more flowers next season.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Over the years, Harold’s Chicken grew far beyond its original location, expanding into a regional brand with restaurants across eight states.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Mitsubishi is looking to capitalize on rising power needs from data centers, manufacturing, as well as LNG exports, by expanding in the the world's largest gas market, citing domestic consumption, production, exports, and further demand growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Motorola devices will follow, with over-the-air updates extending support over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Keeping your right knee slightly bent, perform the deadlift by bending at the hip, extending your left leg behind you for balance.—
Greg Presto,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Per his release, the rapper must follow strict guidelines for the next five years, such as no alcohol, drug testing, and federal supervision when opening bank accounts.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
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But a landmark land claims settlement in 1980 exempted Maine from federal Indian gaming laws, which has prevented the tribes from opening casinos on their lands.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There was minimal discussion of what was unfolding, letting the footage speak for itself.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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Observers typically sit in the back of the courtroom notebook and pen in hand, documenting how the hearing is unfolding and how the individual is treated during the proceeding.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
15 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 19 Jan. 2026.
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