1
as in to extend
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway

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2
as in to lengthen
to make longer having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work

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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 outstretch While kicking around a soccer ball, the little princess took a few breaks to balance on one leg with her arms outstretched above her head. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 26 Nov. 2019 The component sounds of Spanish words, cut down to two vowels and four consonants, are conveyed by whistling, the trick being to curl your fingers against your mouth with one finger outstretched, as if your hand were a gun. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2020 And that’s Bell jogging in to score the winning run with both arms outstretched over his head to give the Diamondbacks their only world championship. Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, 10 Jan. 2020 As Congress applauded the line, Pelosi stood, outstretched her arms, and clapped slowly and deliberately, as if the clap was more in jest than sincerity. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for outstretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretch
Verb
  • Congress faces a deadline Friday to extend funding for the federal government through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30 or risk a partial shutdown.
    Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The victory extended Ankalaev’s unbeaten streak to 14 straight fights.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For Carpenter, the dress was lengthened to incorporate an elegant and dramatic train.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Their normal top-flight shot-distance average is from 15 metres but against Liverpool, that lengthens to 17.6m, which reduces the likelihood of scoring.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Success in this new landscape depends on maintaining high-quality standards while effectively harnessing AI's capabilities to enhance and expand data resources.
    Deepak Yadav, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • These actions are leaving the U.S. vulnerable despite years of evidence that Russia is committed to continuing and expanding its cyber efforts, according to Liana Keesing, campaigns manager for technology reform at Issue One, a nonprofit that has studied technology’s impact on democracy.
    David Klepper, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • No official tally of firings has been released, but the list stretches into the thousands and to nearly every part of the country.
    Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • However, gardeners may not be aware that harvests from their garden’s plants can be stretched simply by expanding to non-traditional parts of their plants.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Cubs made an impression on Yanagawa as a young kid when the team opened the 2000 season in the Tokyo Dome.
    Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
  • When the husband sinks lifelessly into the queen’s arms, her mother-self, sitting beside her, stares straight ahead and opens her mouth wide in a silent scream.
    Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Israel has also increased public funding for projects by Israeli filmmakers from West Bank settlements — the very enterprise that the film No Other Land criticizes as taking over Palestinian homes and land.
    Nuha Musleh, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The proposal would increase the budget of the seven SODCs by about $28 million, or almost 5%.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outstretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretch. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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