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
Quagga mussels and golden mussels, fingernail-sized invaders infesting California waterways, clog the water pumps and pipes responsible for distributing water to millions of people and vast stretches of farmland. Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 The construction zone on Interstate 80 stretches from eastbound Highway 50 from the Yolo I-80 ramp to Jefferson Boulevard in West Sacramento. Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Pearsall was seen attempting to stretch out his leg, but he was also sent to the blue medical tent to be checked out. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 Mickey, already back up top, stretched a graceful dive that made no splash. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Triumph loose fit jeans are made with stretch denim. May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Herbert handed off to running back Kimani Vidal on a stretch rush to the left. Daniel Popper, New York Times, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The transaction marks another milestone in KKR’s expansion in the region.
    Emma Graham, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Madrid Content City has already become one of the largest audiovisual hubs in Europe and is now entering phase IV of its expansion, expected to be completed by 2026.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Pool, pickleball, and plenty of space The property sits on almost three acres, with ample outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.
    Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But company leaders said that the move to Indianapolis from Greenfield was not just about the physical space.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • De Bethune departed from its signature blue in September, releasing a new version of the DB25 Starry Varius at the opposite end of the color spectrum.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
  • On the other side of the spectrum, three executives thought Hill would only be worth a late-round pick swap because of teams’ reservations over Hill’s off-field concerns.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement The quake’s epicenter was shallow, only some 5 km below the surface, which means its energy needed to travel less distance before hitting infrastructure.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • More observations are coming Hundreds of scientists are now measuring dark energy by studying millions of galaxies and the distances between them.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The vacuum's flexible neck made cleaning under chairs, the couch, and around tight corners simple.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Mini muffins and cupcakes are a classic, and this flexible silicone pan makes a convenient option for batch baking.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After the last row of strip malls and subdivisions, the Everglades took over, in a vast, hot expanse of subtropical wetland.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Three walls of oversized casement windows, including a semicircular expanse, and soaring 11-foot ceilings flood the space with sunlight and turn the skyline into an ever-changing artwork.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For a while, Mexico and India were getting more attention, but after additional tariffs on these nations’ imports were announced, this took a downturn.
    Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • For a while, the father and daughter find refuge with the Shaybani people, thanks to their ruler Hani (Tunisian French actor Sami Bouajila), but Hind eventually must take the reins of her destiny.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This affordable and machine-washable version comes in a range of 21 colors.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Viki offers a range of free and subscription streaming options and is widely distributed across Samsung, LG and other connected TV platforms.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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