stretch
verb (used with object)
to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often followed byout ).
is stretching
-
present progressiveof stretch (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is stretching the word’s definition past its breaking point.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026
The middle class is stretching every dollar by buying in bulk, or adopting tactics to save on gas, or putting items on credit.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
The scale of data-center expansion is stretching the ability of the U.S. to provide enough electricity, backup generators and other equipment, as it is now measured most effectively in percentages of GDP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2025
Now, however, he is stretching his long-toss distances out to around 250 feet, more than double what he used to.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2025
He is stretching but certainly not breaking the convention that old-fashioned facts have agents.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
