bough

as in branch
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 bough If the fates allow / Hang a shining star upon the highest bough / And have yourself a merry little Christmas now. Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Dec. 2024 Take a stroll through Condé Nast’s halls, where staffers draw inspiration from the spring/summer 2025 collections and replace boughs of holly with knickknacks and doodads dangling from their everyday bags. Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024 And yes, while the ever-present joyful music, bright lights, pine boughs, discounts and holiday events make people want to shop this time of year, marketing messages are also key to these sales. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024 Some of its biggest perks are its voluminous boughs and lack of maintenance, like cleaning up needles and replacing bulbs. Melissa Epifano, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for bough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bough
Noun
  • Because independent agencies are creatures of Congress housed within the executive branch, there is long-standing disagreement among scholars about just how much power the president should have over them.
    Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
  • The Smithsonian is not part of the executive branch, and the president does not choose its Board of Regents.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In the meantime, the wound must be treated; in severe cases, the limb must be amputated.
    David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Now, in a new study that scientists say could one day help humans regenerate limbs, researchers have revealed how the animals pull this off.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bough. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bough

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!