1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

outstretching

verb

present participle of outstretch
1
as in extending
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 lengthening
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretching
  1. extending
  2. lengthening
  3. expanding
  4. stretching
  5. opening
  6. increasing
  7. unfolding
Verb
  • The fight, Haro said, is about more than extending a lease or delaying an eviction.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • On her feet were strappy, buckle-heavy platform sandals with oversize straps extending off the sides and wrapping around her ankles, with the highest strap wrapping around the tapered jeans.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of extending
Verb
  • These movements take joints through active ranges of motion, lengthening and engaging muscles to support and control movement.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Valjean’s famous bread-theft-to-feed-his-starving-family here becomes a footchase/fight setpiece before he is caught and consigned to an ever-lengthening prison sentence.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of lengthening
Verb
  • Known for its expanding flosses, the company has been on a growth streak of late, growing its business 183 percent in three years and expanding its presence in key retailers like Target and Walmart.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Luckin’s senior management is considering expanding into the Gulf countries, Chairman David Li told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Monday.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of expanding
Verb
  • Beth Israel was a flagship of American Judaism, its origins stretching back to 1844, when Texas was still an independent republic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Standard assays for measuring plastic breakdown are exceptionally slow because solid PET plastic resists dissolution, stretching testing timelines across several days.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of stretching
Verb
  • Both airlines, which merged in 2024 but operate as distinct brands, are also working on opening airport lounges to lure customers willing to shell out for luxury travel.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • After opening a second store on the Left Bank, Parisian handbag duo Léo et Violette have given their Rue Sainte-Anne flagship a fresh encore, with Betyle Studio designing a space inspired by the founders’ love of opera and music.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of opening
Verb
  • This line is increasing sustainable sourcing, minimizing landfill waste, and conserving fresh water, among many initiatives.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The increasing frequency and unpredictability of Reuben’s hot flashes, including sleep disruptions from nighttime hot flashes, took a toll.
    — Partner Content, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • The merger debate is unfolding as CSX is cutting roughly 1,100 maintenance-of-way jobs, according to a labor group.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The beauty of the landscape will sit alongside the cruelty unfolding among the characters.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfolding
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

outstretches
outstretching
outstrip
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outstretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretching. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of argot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All