fanning (out)

verb

present participle of fan (out)
1
as in spreading (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
as in radiating
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point most of the city's subway lines fan out from this central station

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanning (out)
  1. expanding
  2. radiating
  3. extending
  4. branching
  5. opening
  6. unfolding
Verb
  • That law included provisions dramatically expanding the scope of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Altogether, Google is expanding automatic tracking support to cover more than 100 different exercises and sports, up from 10 previously.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of expanding
Verb
  • In photos shared by celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos on September 19, the British lawyer could be seen radiating in a sunshine yellow sundress during a week-long trip to Malawi, Africa as part of a Clooney Foundation for Justice initiative.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Barbara and Ibby forge a friendship that’s unexpectedly compelling because of the strength of the two actors, radiating an interiority that isn’t on the page.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of radiating
Verb
  • By transporting supplies, supporting reconnaissance activities, and assisting with casualty evacuation, unmanned ground vehicles can potentially reduce soldiers’ physical workload while extending their operational reach.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Atresmedia is extending the commercial life of its programming through deals with streaming platforms.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of extending
Verb
  • Through a particular sequence of such branching decisions, Waddington argued, cells specialize into their mature types, or fates, each expressing a particular set of genes.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of branching
Verb
  • On Monday, Hod brought that world Stateside, opening NYBFW with the unveiling of her first flagship outside Tel Aviv.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That’s an eye-opening moment in the recording studio — Lisa isn’t even making eye contact with her producers and struggling to interact with them.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of opening
Verb
  • Trump weighed in as the unrest intensified, arguing that what was unfolding went beyond the students’ complaints about France’s education system.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The White House move is unfolding against a far darker debate over where the technology is headed.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfolding
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

fanning
fanning (out)
fanny
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Cite this Entry

“Fanning (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanning%20%28out%29. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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