fan (out)

verb

Definition of fan (out)next
1
as in to stretch (out)
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area the accordionist smoothly fanned out the bellows of his instrument as he played

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point most of the city's subway lines fan out from this central station

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fan (out)
  1. extend
  2. radiate
  3. expand
  4. branch
  5. open
  6. flow
  7. unfold
  8. derive
Verb
  • Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Lainey Reid took the win, extending a run that already includes the Women's Tag Team Championships and a victory over Brie Bella and Paige at Saturday Night's Main Event on July 18.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Bouzat sealed the win with a left-footed shot from the center of the box to help the Dynamo extend their unbeaten streak to five games.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of extend
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors that are easier to spot — around three per hour as seen from both hemispheres, the American Meteor Society reports.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
  • The Perpetually Composed, radiating calm while your insides are in chaos?
    — Laide Alexander, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • In the mid-1960s, the festival expanded from an intimate get-together among church members to a cultural exchange for the greater Sacramento community.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • San Gregorio State Beach is now roughly twice its size after expanding into the formerly private ranch, San Gregorio Ranch.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Multiply it across roughly a half-million setae per foot, each branching into hundreds of contact points, and the combined force is enough to let a gecko hang from a single toe or sprint upside down across a ceiling.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Toward the north, Stewart showed off pictures of an enormous eagle statue situated in the center of several branching maze paths.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Definition of branch
Verb
  • Ash bought the building in 2015, opening the Siren after three years.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Nearby, guests participating in the butterfly release carefully held small containers before opening them and watching the butterflies take flight.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of open
Verb
  • After Klee announced his death on July 25, tributes flowed on social media for the little dog whose cancer diagnosis was revealed in May.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Quixotic aerialists twisted, turned and unfolded above the crowd, using flowing fabric and butterfly-inspired movements to mirror the creatures being celebrated.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • The remark is notable in light of behind-the-scenes drama that has unfolded over the last year and a half.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • The opening installation unfolds in a cornucopia of mezzanines, double-height caverns, walkways, and arched windows that give on to the street.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Definition of unfold
Verb
  • In academics cryptographic algorithms are considered broken when weaknesses allow an adversary to derive a key faster than is possible using a brute-force attack.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026
  • This wealth derived from his control over state economic resources, particularly through Setad, an opaque organization that seized properties and reinvested in diverse industries, operating without oversight or taxes.
    — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of derive
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fanny packs
fan (out)
fans
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Cite this Entry

“Fan (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fan%20%28out%29. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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