1
as in limbs
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant
I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in tributaries
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 departments
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
the two branches of the U.S. Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in radiates
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of branches
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
4 July 2026
Since Independence Day is a federal holiday, most branches of national banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and CitiBank, among others, will be closed on July 4.
—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The aisles were so choked that blooms and branches brushed against us, the air heady with the scent of lilies, roses, eucalyptus, and sweet decay.
—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2026
Montesquieu was especially celebrated for his account of how and why political power needs to be separated into branches.
—
Robert A. Ballingall,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Ensure the mulch is pulled back from the main trunk, as far out as the branches reach, to avoid rot.
—
Martha Stewart,
2 July 2026
Fallen branches, dead plant material, faded mulch, and leaves gathering in corners can make an otherwise beautiful garden feel forgotten.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
2 July 2026
The researchers pulled back branches and dead leaves around the base of a tree until the python’s glossy scales caught the sunlight.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
Trees and branches were taken out, and live wires went down.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Crews — including at least one person captured wearing an old crew shirt from a previous Swift tour — were seen wheeling in greenery and flowers, as well as knobby tree branches and lush foliage.
—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
4 July 2026
Since Independence Day is a federal holiday, most branches of national banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and CitiBank, among others, will be closed on July 4.
—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The aisles were so choked that blooms and branches brushed against us, the air heady with the scent of lilies, roses, eucalyptus, and sweet decay.
—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2026
Montesquieu was especially celebrated for his account of how and why political power needs to be separated into branches.
—
Robert A. Ballingall,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Ensure the mulch is pulled back from the main trunk, as far out as the branches reach, to avoid rot.
—
Martha Stewart,
2 July 2026
Fallen branches, dead plant material, faded mulch, and leaves gathering in corners can make an otherwise beautiful garden feel forgotten.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
2 July 2026
The researchers pulled back branches and dead leaves around the base of a tree until the python’s glossy scales caught the sunlight.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
Trees and branches were taken out, and live wires went down.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Verb
His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branches
Noun
-
Deirdre massaged my limbs while the cups went to work on my perpetually achy upper back.
-
Gribbin was fitted with prosthetic limbs, quickly regained her ability to walk, returned to sports and got her driver’s license.
Noun
-
What other industry can boast proprietary, transaction-level purchase data at the scale of performance creators and affiliates?
-
As one executive put it, teams have to pick their roster battles and try to stay covered at the higher affiliates.
Noun
-
Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown.
-
The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall.
Noun
-
Supporters hail the move as bringing accountability and coherence — through the governor — to all the departments and agencies involved in education.
-
Cody Hess, an associate government program analyst for the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, said these differences in departments’ needs for in-person meetings make a sweeping return-to-office order unnecessary.
Verb
-
Her high ponytail worn to Wimbledon, however, feels like a playful departure—one that radiates serious Sporty Spice vibes without sacrificing an ounce of royal polish.
-
This way, the whole surface area of each droplet radiates away heat.
Noun
-
These synthetic cells could also pave the way to the past, to the origins of biology itself.
-
It is stored in an inactive form in cells such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and immune system—acting as the body’s reserve bank, indicating how much iron is available for future use.
Noun
-
Even though three public agencies conducted air monitoring, the picture is still murky.
-
For advertisers and agencies worn down by years of incremental tooling, that is the difference between a feature and a step change.
Verb
-
Applying mulch directly against plant stems traps moisture, leading to rotting and other issues.
-
That prediction stems in part from his expectation that technology companies will crank up their prices as their products become more essential to companies like Allianz.
Cite this Entry
“Branches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branches. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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