fan (out)

Definition of fan (out)next
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
  • The platform also incorporates measures to extend the time between major overhauls, potentially reducing maintenance demands and improving fleet availability.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Produced by Joy House Productions, the film extends Hopwood’s run of stories about relationships and Chinese Australian life.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The surrounding countryside, by comparison, was littered with large numbers of trees that were toppled as the shock waves produced by the exploding asteroid high above radiated downward.
    — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The film’s focus on the strange and unprecedented power dynamics in an industry that’s hurtling forward at all costs radiated off-screen as well.
    — Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Good Time Charlie has Haddad shifting into a study of many characters at once and expanding in scale.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The National Hurricane Center's official forecast is not one specific line, but rather a cone of uncertainty that expands with time, up to five days out.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Dawnwalker is similar in terms of its branching storyline and great side quests, but unique with how vampirism affects gameplay.
    — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Newer references now represent many different versions of the human genome through branching paths rather than forcing everyone’s DNA onto one template.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Salkar said a medico-legal case had been opened and an autopsy would follow.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Democratic divide As Republican donors open their wallets, some of Democrats’ biggest benefactors are missing from the DNC’s donor rolls.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Despite steady attacks from Iran, oil tankers and other commercial vessels have continued flowing through the narrow waterway.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Charles Jencks, the late American cultural theorist and a famously exacting critic, saw in its flowing forms both sensuality and an important new direction for architecture.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Confusion appears to be a recurring theme surrounding Pike’s botched execution, and that is evident in the events that unfolded thereafter.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The mood in the Commanders’ booth was a little different as Bram Weinstein and analyst London Fletcher couldn’t believe what was unfolding in front of their eyes.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The new material is being introduced as part of a collection of 26 pieces aimed at reducing the dependence on conventional synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels such as nylon and polyester.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Until the 1960s, most public-school funding was derived from local sources, leaving poor areas with meager resources.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
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 13 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster