stretch 1 of 4

stretch

2 of 4

verb (1)

1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details it was stretching the truth to say she'd been in the movies: she was once an extra whose scene was cut in the final version

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2
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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3
as in to lengthen
to make longer the time it would take to fix the car got stretched from three hours to two days when the part we needed had to be ordered

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4
5
as in to tighten
to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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stretch

3 of 4

adjective

stretch (out)

4 of 4

verb (2)

as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area you can't stretch out your legs to the point where you're blocking the aisle

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stretch
Noun
The final stretch was nothing short of spectacular. Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2025 Both of them sat on a stretch of Pico where hills were merely an idea. Literary Hub, 30 July 2025
Verb
At the summit, sweeping views stretch over Lakes Brienz and Thun and the Swiss Alps’ iconic trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. AFAR Media, 29 July 2025 Musk is the world's wealthiest person and owns several companies including Tesla, SpaceX and X. Elon Musk's the Boring Company has reportedly targeted Nashville as a site for an underground tunnel, stretching from downtown Nashville to the Nashville International Airport. Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 29 July 2025
Adjective
According to our expert, washing denim too often breaks down the fibers more quickly and that is especially true if the jeans have any stretch fibers in them, which many of them do. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 July 2025 Sometimes, that means staying and reshaping the role, like carving out a stretch assignment to reignite your learning. Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • Samsung has revealed a major expansion of the licensing programme for its Tizen OS TV smart system that will see it being introduced on TVs from a host of new TV brands in multiple territories across the world.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • In each case, Bleacher Report plans to invest more in its coverage of those sports airing on TNT after seeing audience growth from previous expansions.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • The town has long been a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community, and that openness shows up in everything from the art to the hospitality to the food.
    Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • And what stillness brings is the space to examine the voids that may need filling, and clarity about desires and hopes that need fulfillment.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, Composition N°1 consists of a poppy flower, sweet pea branches and a butterfly made of aventurine and black glass, paved with diamonds and black spinels, and coated in Vantablack — a material that absorbs 99.9 percent of visible light.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 24 July 2025
  • Indeed, Lee and Ahn give voice to the entire spectrum of this fandom, which is as vast and diverse our species itself.
    David Opie, IndieWire, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025
  • The Colts released veteran kicker Matt Gay this offseason and replaced him with Shrader, which made sense from a financial standpoint, especially since Gay’s issues from distance last year made his high salary untenable.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • Compared to most other garden crops, carrots are relatively flexible about their lighting needs and grow in either full or part sun locations.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
  • This entails the focus on more flexible work arrangements and challenges the more deeply rooted traditional relationships between employees and employers.
    Bankim Chandra, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • On 80 acres, the company built a sprawling, multi-story campus of monumental entryways, soaring atria and expansive terraces overlooking an artificial lagoon and offering, far in the distance across an expanse of water, a view of the downtown Miami skyline.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
  • Along with a steel and aluminum hull, the new launch offers up an exterior with Baglietto’s classic strong lines, wide glass expanses, and stepped aft deck, which splits across three descending levels that cascade toward a sea-view pool.
    India Brown, Robb Report, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • For a while the family of eight had no issue traveling the state to support Sara while she was being treated after a brain tumor diagnosis, according to their attorneys.
    Adam Carlson, People.com, 26 July 2025
  • Reliever Tanner Banks had been warming up for a while.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Bose’s first high-profile acquisitions, these high-end audio brands will allow the company to tailor the performance and appearance of its systems to auto brands appealing to a wider range of buyers.
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 27 July 2025
  • Many of the country's best speakers have presented on a wide range of topics, from the best native plants for your garden to in-depth looks at the flora from native ecosystems.
    Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 27 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

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