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outstretch

[ out-strech ]

/ ˌaʊtˈstrɛtʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR outstretch ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to stretch forth; extend: to outstretch one's hand in welcome.

to stretch out; expand: The rising population has outstretched the city.

to stretch beyond: His behavior outstretches my patience.

Origin of outstretch

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at out-, stretch

OTHER WORDS FROM outstretch

out·stretch·er, noun

Words nearby outstretch

outstand, outstanding, outstare, outstation, outstay, outstretch, outstrip, outstroke, outsung, outswear, outswing

Example sentences from the Web for outstretched

Before we could pull away they paddled over and with outstretched hands uttered a single English word: “money.”

A Little Too Off the Beaten Path in Burma |Katya Cengel |June 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He escorts me down the stairs, out the door, and we stand for a moment beneath the outstretched arms of the giant elms.

The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali |Peter Richmond |February 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I reached over to grab his outstretched hand but as our fingers were about to touch, I was engulfed in darkness.

Swallowed by a Hippo |Justin Green |May 6, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Dropping his rifle, he approached his dog with outstretched arms.

The Whelps of the Wolf |George Marsh

In the hour of his need it had been neither religion nor philosophy, but the outstretched hand, that had helped.

The Ancient Law |Ellen Glasgow
Old Jerry stood with his outstretched hand poised in midair while he realized that his chance shot had gone home.

Once to Every Man |Larry Evans
And under Kori's outstretched arm, so close as almost to brush against his uniformed legs, had stolen Thorn.

The Radiant Shell |Paul Ernst
That outstretched, mocking hand—was it what the abstainers called the "demon of drink?"

A Republic Without a President and Other Stories |Herbert Ward

British Dictionary definitions for outstretched

outstretch

/ (ˌaʊtˈstrɛtʃ) /

verb (tr)

to extend or expand; stretch out

to stretch or extend beyond