branch 1 of 2

Definition of branchnext
1
as in limb
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree

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Relevance
2
as in affiliate
a local unit of an organization a bank with many neighborhood branches

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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

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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

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branch

2 of 2

verb

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 branch
Noun
In Peru, prime ministers coordinate the implementation of government policies, but they are not elected to office and do not lead the executive branch, which is headed by the president. Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026 The Kansas branch of the National Education Association opposed legislation prohibiting elementary students from using computers or tablets at all. Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Pruning also stimulates branching, which encourages more flowers. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 The Experimental Group started as cocktail connoisseurs with bars in Paris and London before branching into restaurants and rooms, which means these creative libations are probably the best in town. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
Noun
  • In fact, during most movements, your core muscles naturally activate to stabilize your spine while your limbs move, says certified strength and conditioning specialist Susie Reiner, who’s also an assistant professor in the exercise science department at Seton Hall University.
    Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Desmond’s body dangles, doll-like, as Shoham desperately, hungrily tries to arrange his limbs, propping him up and smashing his face against hers.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Millions of people flock to the Smithsonian's two air and space museums in Washington and their affiliates at major NASA heritage sites in Texas and Florida each year.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Across the Houston area, residents described hearing a low, rumbling sound that many compared to thunder, even though the skies were clear, according to CBS affiliate KHOU.
    Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And in Colorado, all 13 of the state’s Gold Medal trout streams are fed by tributaries flowing from roadless areas.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The water would be dumped into the Niespodziany Ditch, a tributary of the Kankakee.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • At the local and county level, that includes Pinellas County, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office as well as the police department in Miami Springs and the Key West Police Department.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The director of aviation, Haley Gentry, makes the most compared to her department colleagues.
    Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the Project Hail Mary universe, all life in our solar system’s sector of the Milky Way comes from an ancient ancestor of Astrophage that long ago radiated out from Tau Ceti, Weir says.
    Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Those words — simple, dignified, and private — feel fitting for a man whose on-screen persona radiated quiet strength and unwavering principle.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The toner pads combine a trio of acids—AHA, BHA, and PHA—to slough off dead skin cells, unclog pores, and smooth rough texture.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Mar. 2026
  • For starters, slow running stimulates your body to make more mitochondria–the little organelles in your cells that create the energy that fuels your movements–and also spurs your existing mitochondria to grow bigger, Hamilton says.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Noem's handling of two deadly shootings by federal agents during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis in January prompted criticism from Democrats and Republicans and kickstarted an impasse over funding for the agency that has persisted.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Most other agencies have moved online since the COVID pandemic, asking actors to submit material virtually; others only allow open intros once a week.
    Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Rainbow-stemmed Swiss Chard adds a pop of color and dose of magnesium to ward off miserable migraines.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The staff overhaul stems, in part, from those observations.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Nglish: Translation of branch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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