stretch

[ strech ]

/ strɛtʃ /

Save This Word!

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

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

How to use stretch in a sentence

They prefer to stretch out pitchers when they can but could also see Fuentes in a future bullpen.
Nationals protect Steven Fuentes, Yasel Antuna and Joan Adon from Rule 5 draft|Jesse Dougherty|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The final stretch to the summit might be a bit easier these days, says Athans, while the bottom half of the mountain could become trickier to navigate.
Everest Summits May Become Easier Due to Climate Change|Kyla Mandel|November 20, 2020|Outside Online
Nobody looks sexy in a helmet, and stretch pants are long gone, but at least there’s trash-talking.
How COVID-19 Could Actually Be Good for Skiing|Marc Peruzzi|November 20, 2020|Outside Online
The colugo spun around, stretched her legs and tail, and glided like a magic carpet across the road to another tree trunk.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops|Yao-Hua Law|November 20, 2020|Science News

The 33-year-old point guard struggled in his first season with the Jazz, missing a long stretch due to a hamstring injury and seeing his scoring and shooting efficiency tumble.
NBA free agency tracker (plus trades): Warriors acquire Kelly Oubre; 76ers trade Al Horford to Thunder|Ben Golliver|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
In other words, the Air Force is saying that its drone force has been stretched to its limits.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A spandex mask stretched over his face, covering his eyes and nose.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Circus parades often became as large a sight as the performance itself; one Barnum and Bailey parade stretched for three miles.
We’re All Carnies Now: Why We Can’t Quit the Circus|Anthony Paletta|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The “stretched” cabins in new 737s and A320s transform their economics.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room|Clive Irving|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The kid wore a white T-shirt with the collar stretched loosely around the top of his smooth chest.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wasn't the dead man stretched in the shadow convincing proof of their capacity for pure devilishness?
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Each tiny tree was a plume of leaves; the rows stretched out to the hilltop, and over.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
How great glory did he gain when he lifted up his hands, and stretched out swords against the cities?
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
As they entered, a liver-coloured hound that lay stretched before the fire growled lazily, and showed the whites of his eyes.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Spunyarn bowed, stretched out his long legs towards the fire, and opening his cigarette case offered it to Monsieur de Kerguel.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

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 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