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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fan (out)
Verb
  • The immense gravity of these central black holes generates huge amounts of friction in the accretion disk, which becomes very hot and radiates energy strongly, especially in ultraviolet wavelengths.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 July 2025
  • Juliana Ross hopes to amplify LGBTQ+ voices Julian (Juliana) Ross found his calling in elementary school, drawn to the confidence and beauty that drag queens radiated.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Given the dominance of their major predator, the wolf, in mountainous and forested regions of the north, the coyote found its niche in the grasslands and deserts of North America east of the Mississippi to the Pacific and extending south into Mexico.
    Helen Whybrow July 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
  • When wage labor and economic inequality increased in the early 1800s, states extended the vote to all white men regardless of property.
    Time, Time, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The surplus of photons triggered a signal through my optic nerves, and in a millisecond, a web of electrical signals reached across my brain, branching into billions of neurons and trillions of synapses.
    Michael Jones McKean, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
  • Bryan Johnson is dedicating his life (and $2M a year) to exploring anti-aging technologies and biohacking, which has branched into a focus on the longevity and size of his erections.
    People Staff, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Mari said the strike has now expanded to include Teamsters in California and Washington state, and that upwards of 4,000 union members are now in the midst of a work stoppage.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 14 July 2025
  • Prime-One intends to serve nearby towns as well, with the founders saying the plan is to serve 4,000 homes with the initial build and then expand further.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The death toll has rose to over 120 people killed since heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River and flowed through homes and summer camps in the early morning hours of July 4.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 12 July 2025
  • Both the Sai and the Kok rivers flow into the Mekong, as does the Ruak, where unsafe levels of arsenic have also been found.
    Michael Sullivan, NPR, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • All of these inputs to the model simulations are primarily derived from observational data.
    Ben Santer, Scientific American, 4 July 2025
  • While much of the popularity of the program is derived from its ability to inspire online debate, even the showrunners have noticed an uptick in the nastiness of the commentary.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • According to a press release, the festival has also opened its call to artists, which invites local and international creators to submit their ideas to become part of the immersive art and light event.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
  • Also in San José’s city center is the Mercado Central, a market that originally opened in 1880 and today stretches more than the length of a full city block.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • The disease typically progresses from the base of the plant upward on leaves and stems.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
  • Opponents say this year's legislation is particularly concerning because the high cost of the loans stems primarily from fees rather than interest.
    Tony Cook, IndyStar, 2 July 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.

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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 19 Jul. 2025.

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