Phrase guide

branch out

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To expand in the manner of branches.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The chart starts in the center and branches out from there.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To expand one's interests or activities in a new direction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Studying Latin may make it easier to branch out into Spanish or Italian.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To white out or expand the whitespace around the title or other words, lines, etc. in a document.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

vary in order to spread risk or to expand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The company diversified

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: diversify, broaden

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, vary

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: şaxələnmək — expand in the manner of branches
  • German: verästeln — expand in the manner of branches
  • Russian: ветви́ться (vetvítʹsja) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Russian: разветвля̀ться (razvetvljàtʹsja) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Russian: разветви́ться (razvetvítʹsja) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Swedish: förgrena sig — expand in the manner of branches
  • Turkish: budaklanmak — expand in the manner of branches
  • Ottoman Turkish: بوداقلانمق (budaklanmak) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Ottoman Turkish: بوعلنمك (nevʼlenmek) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Ukrainian: розгалу́жуватися (rozhalúžuvatysja) — expand in the manner of branches
  • Ukrainian: розгалу́зитися (rozhalúzytysja) — expand in the manner of branches