fan (out)

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fan (out)
Verb
  • At over six feet long, it’s got a serious presence—perfect for anchoring a living room or quietly radiating main character energy under a gallery wall.
    Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
  • As domestic stability gets wobbly in Turkey the destabilizing effect will radiate out to the neighboring countries, to the region and beyond.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Holland and Sasser will be suspended for one game, and Stewart will be suspended for two games. Oklahoma City aims to extend its 10-game winning streak as the Thunder face off against the Detroit Pistons.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The final minutes of the horror movie show her being engulfed in darkness until a match is struck, revealing a candle with someone’s hand extended over the flame.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Another goal: plants inclined to branch more and stay bushy.
    Margaret Roach, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Architects Intuitive Dwellings This earthy modern kitchen, designed by Intuitive Dwellings in the Atlanta neighborhood of Serenbe, creates a dramatic centerpiece in an open living concept, featuring a bold backsplash composed of branching marble slabs with opposing brass inlay.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Under his stewardship, Le Bon Marché underwent a significant renovation, expanding its floor area by 43,000 square feet.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Anytime billions flow into an industry, competition ramps up and stock valuations soar.
    David Trainer, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The look featured a semi-sheer white top with flowing sleeves and a loose silhouette.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The name is derived from metal legs that extend out to keep the bag standing upright.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Trump has derived his authority to impose tariffs by declaring a national emergency caused by the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migration from Canada, Mexico and China.
    Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The rock act lands its highest debut on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, where Rush 50 opens at No. 5.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Basehor’s population has more than tripled since 2000, and residents will no longer have to drive to Bonner Springs or KCK after the Fareway opens.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Once the pollinators emerge in spring, feel free to finally cut back stems.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The figure is punctuated with holes holding tiny grape stems, a nod to the role Chinese immigrants played in cultivating vineyards in California’s Sonoma Valley.
    Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 25 Mar. 2025
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

Cite this Entry

“Fan (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fan%20%28out%29. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!