stretch

[ strech ]

/ strɛtʃ /

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See synonyms for: stretch / stretched / stretcher / stretchest on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often followed by out): to stretch oneself out on the ground.

to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).

to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.

to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.

to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.

to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.

to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.

to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.

to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.

Radio and Television. to prolong or slow down (action or pace) in order not to end too early: to stretch a show; to stretch the action two minutes.

verb (used without object)

to recline at full length (usually followed by out): to stretch out on a couch.

to extend the hand or to reach, as for something.

to extend over a distance or area or in a particular direction: The forest stretches for miles.

to extend in time: His memory stretches back to his early childhood.

to stretch oneself by extending the limbs and lengthening the muscles to the utmost: to stretch and yawn.

to become stretched, or admit of being stretched, to greater length, width, etc., as any elastic or ductile material.

Radio and Television. to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.

noun

an act or instance of stretching.

the state of being stretched.

a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse: a stretch of meadow.

Horse Racing. the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.

Baseball. a short windup, usually used to keep base runners from taking too long a lead, in which the pitcher starts the pitching motion with hands together at the waist, raises them to or above the head, brings them back to the waist, and, after a momentary pause, delivers the ball.

an extent in time; duration: for a stretch of ten years.

elasticity or capacity for extension.

Slang. a term of imprisonment: He's doing a stretch in the pen.

the act or fact of stretching or extending something beyond reasonable or proper limits: You wouldn't call her a genius by any stretch of the imagination. It's quite a stretch for me to believe his story.

(initial capital letter) a nickname for a tall, lanky person.

adjective

made of synthetic or composite yarn having a sufficiently low denier or having been subjected to any of several special mechanical treatments to permit increased elasticity: stretch girdle; stretch pants.

(of yarn) modified or twisted so as to afford high elasticity.

Also stretched. of or relating to a conveyance, as a limousine or airliner, whose seating area is expanded to carry more passengers or afford greater legroom and to allow space for other comforts and amenities.

OTHER WORDS FOR stretch

11 lie down.

20 range, reach, compass.

See synonyms for stretch on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR stretch

5, 16 shorten, shrink.

See antonyms for stretch on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stretch

First recorded before 900; Middle English strecchen (verb), Old English streccan; cognate with Dutch strekken, German strecken; akin to Old English stræc “firm, hard,” Middle Dutch strac “stiff.” See stare, stark

synonym study for stretch

5. See lengthen.

OTHER WORDS FROM stretch

stretch·a·ble, adjectivestretch·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·stretch·a·ble, adjectivepre·stretch, verb (used with object), noun

un·stretch·a·ble, adjectiveun·stretched, adjectivewell-stretched, adjective

Words nearby stretch

stressor, stress out, stress position, stress test, stress-timed, stretch, stretch a point, stretcher, stretcher-bearer, stretchie, stretching course

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stretch in a sentence

Graham is being far outspent by Harrison, who has raised a stunning $29 million and has about $10 million for the final stretch.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Now, the season starts around May and routinely extends to November—sometimes even stretching to December.
West Coast wildfire smoke is visible from outer space|María Paula Rubiano A.|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
If it’s fairly straight, hamstring stretches are going to give you the best benefit.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement|Sara Chodosh|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
Democratic leaders stand by that proposal to bring back the weekly $600 enhanced unemployment benefit—which stretched from late March to late July.
The federal $300 unemployment benefit is set to expire. Will there be a replacement?|Lance Lambert|September 14, 2020|Fortune

Some of the Nats’ stretch-run problems aren’t fixable, either.
The Nationals Are Running Out Of Time|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The plan is to stretch it out as long as possible, then probably forget about it, and then suddenly remember it.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“You need to stretch kids slightly outside their comfort zones, but never have surprises,” she said.
The Most Inspiring Bits of Temple Grandin’s Reddit AMA|Emily Shire|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They started with Not Fade Away and went from one song to another over a 14 minute stretch.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs|Allen Barra|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The farmers in the area told Ledu that what normally fed them for one year would barely stretch for the next few months.
Liberia’s Ebola Famine|Abby Haglage, Nina Strochlic|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the final stretch of the campaign, Gotauco, the Healey volunteer, recorded a song she titled "Integrity in A-Minor."
How to Run a Statewide Campaign on $38|Michael Ames|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I could see only the stretch of green before me, and I felt as if I must walk on forever, without coming to the end of it.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
A long stretch of smooth ice followed, over which he glided with ever-increasing speed.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
The hut was barely high enough to let him sit up, and long enough to let him lie down—not to stretch out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
He had perhaps placed in her hand the weapon that should hasten his own defeat, stretch him bleeding on the sand.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Twenty minutes jogging brought us into a stretch of rough country, a series of knobs and ridges cut by innumerable coulées.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for stretch

stretch

/ (strɛtʃ) /

verb

to draw out or extend or be drawn out or extended in length, area, etc

to extend or be extended to an undue degree, esp so as to distort or lengthen permanently

to extend (the limbs, body, etc)

(tr) to reach or suspend (a rope, etc) from one place to another

(tr) to draw tight; tighten

(often foll by out, forward, etc) to reach or hold (out); extend

(intr usually foll by over) to extend in timethe course stretched over three months

(intr; foll by for, over, etc) (of a region, etc) to extend in length or area

(intr) (esp of a garment) to be capable of expanding, as to a larger sizesocks that will stretch

(tr) to put a great strain upon or extend to the limit

to injure (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc) by means of a strain or sprain

(tr often foll by out) to make do with (limited resources)to stretch one's budget

(tr) informal to expand or elaborate (a story, etc) beyond what is credible or acceptablethat's stretching it a bit

(tr; often passive) to extend, as to the limit of one's abilities or talents

archaic, or slang to hang or be hanged by the neck

stretch a point

to make a concession or exception not usually made
to exaggerate

stretch one's legs to take a walk, esp after a period of inactivity

noun

the act of stretching or state of being stretched

a large or continuous expanse or distancea stretch of water

extent in time, length, area, etc

capacity for being stretched, as in some garments
(as modifier)stretch pants

horse racing the section or sections of a racecourse that are straight, esp the final straight section leading to the finishing line

slang a term of imprisonment

at a stretch mainly British

with some difficulty; by making a special effort
if really necessary or in extreme circumstances
at one time

Derived forms of stretch

stretchable, adjectivestretchability, noun

Word Origin for stretch

Old English streccan; related to Old Frisian strekka, Old High German strecken; see straight, strake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with stretch

stretch

In addition to the idioms beginning with stretch

stretch a point
stretch one's legs

also see:

at a stretch
by any stretch

stretch

OTHER WORDS FOR stretch

OPPOSITES FOR stretch

Origin of stretch

synonym study for stretch

OTHER WORDS FROM stretch

Words nearby stretch

Words related to stretch

How to use stretch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stretch

Derived forms of stretch

Word Origin for stretch

Other Idioms and Phrases with stretch