1
as in to extend
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lengthen
to make longer
having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outstretch
The component sounds of Spanish words, cut down to two vowels and four consonants, are conveyed by whistling, the trick being to curl your fingers against your mouth with one finger outstretched, as if your hand were a gun.
—
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2020
And that’s Bell jogging in to score the winning run with both arms outstretched over his head to give the Diamondbacks their only world championship.
—Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, 10 Jan. 2020
As Congress applauded the line, Pelosi stood, outstretched her arms, and clapped slowly and deliberately, as if the clap was more in jest than sincerity.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2019
While kicking around a soccer ball, the little princess took a few breaks to balance on one leg with her arms outstretched above her head.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 26 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for outstretch
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2020
And that’s Bell jogging in to score the winning run with both arms outstretched over his head to give the Diamondbacks their only world championship.
—Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, 10 Jan. 2020
As Congress applauded the line, Pelosi stood, outstretched her arms, and clapped slowly and deliberately, as if the clap was more in jest than sincerity.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2019
While kicking around a soccer ball, the little princess took a few breaks to balance on one leg with her arms outstretched above her head.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 26 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for outstretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretch
Verb
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The concession extends through four different eco-zones and happens to be prime rhino and big cat real estate.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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But behind the courteous gesture, there are lingering concerns of how overtourism might impact Ishigaki’s rich natural environment and potentially overwhelm its infrastructure, concerns that extend to other neighboring remote islands.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Storing in the refrigerator lengthens that time to six to eight months.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
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As a musician, Holloway’s voice is inseparable from his identity and livelihood, and going on testosterone — which causes the vocal folds to thicken and lengthen, lowering pitch, while also enlarging the larynx — terrified him.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The phone and internet cables that should have stretched over the track are gone.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
3 June 2026
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From lightweight gauze and breezy crochet to stretch denim and moisture-wicking activewear, the fabrics on these cropped pants and shorts contribute to both their comfort and style.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
Verb
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After the facility opened, delivery rates slowed.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Face Foundrié, a skincare company known for its facial bar, just opened its first location in Southlake.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Becerra’s support increased by 9 percentage points in a little more than two weeks when compared with the May 9-10 Emerson results.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
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But even on a per-square-foot basis, the price has increased 33%.—
Allison Schrager,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outstretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretch. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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