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3
as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water
the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
the two branches of the U.S. Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
threads branched from the center of the spider web
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of branch
Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
For good-size fruits, thin any marble-size fruits on mature stone fruit, apple and pear trees to just one fruit along every 4 to 6 inches of branch.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Prune to establish a strong structure of old wood and branching to support a healthy plant with new green growth.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Noun
In smaller yards, this can easily extend into a neighbor's property—a real problem, considering how brittle silver maple branches can be.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
For good-size fruits, thin any marble-size fruits on mature stone fruit, apple and pear trees to just one fruit along every 4 to 6 inches of branch.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
The current inscribes some victims’ skin with mysterious scarlike patterns called Lichtenberg figures, which resemble the limbs of a barren tree—or the branching structure of lightning itself.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Prune to establish a strong structure of old wood and branching to support a healthy plant with new green growth.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
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Comments on all of the videos point out inconsistent character designs from scene to scene, including varying faces and extra limbs.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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Say yes to experimentation and going out on a limb!—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Rookie Arttu Hyry, playing his sixth game since being recalled from Dallas' AHL affiliate, scored the lone goal for the Stars, who are in second place in the Central Division but have lost five of their last six.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Documents list the operator as Lavender Fields Holdings LLC, and according to Indiana Economic Development Corporation sales tax exemption documents, Google is listed as an affiliate.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Instead, year-round rain and snow feed the Salt River and its tributaries.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Paul Faust, who lives in the Darlington area of Ligonier Township, has a small tributary to the Loyalhanna Creek in his backyard, but on Friday, that run was acting less like a stream and more like a moat.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shackelford accused Hernandez of corruption, and her own department of enabling and covering it up, in a detailed whistleblower complaint to DeSantis’ Chief Inspector General.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Because those two sports are going to drive and carry everybody else in the department.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Administrator Crystal Ruth switches on dozens of heat lamps that radiate a yellow hue to warm at least 80 disabled, abandoned or formerly abused animals that call the rescue home.—
Julian Camejo,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The process rapidly reduces the number of infected red blood cells in the patient’s system, replacing them with donor cells, corresponding author David Leaf told STAT.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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In this study, scientists determined that combining FAK-inhibiting drugs with immunotherapy and chemotherapy yielded the best results in mice in suppressing tumor growth, attracting tumor-fighting immune cells and extending survival.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term directing federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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That’s because developers reportedly went to other agencies, most often Port KC, or weren’t subject to the requirements.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mucus oozed out of the coral stems, a telltale response to trauma.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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And many are struggling, according to the Cathedral Music Trust, which was founded in 1956 to stem the decline of church music after World War II.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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