Synonyms for stretch
verb
To become longer
grow, expand, be extended, extend oneself, spread, unfold, increase, swell, spring up, shoot up, open, burst forth.
Antonyms contract*, shrink, wane.
To cause to stretch, sense 1
tighten, strain, make tense, draw, draw out, elongate, extend, develop, distend, inflate, lengthen, magnify, amplify, spread out, widen, pull, pull out of shape, pull into shape, draw tight, make taut, tauten.
Antonyms relax*, let go, slacken.
To occupy space
extend across, range, extend to, spread over, cover a given distance; see also occupy 2, reach 1.
See stretch in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To make or become longer.
Also used with out: draw out, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, prolongate, protract, spin (out). (Mathematics) produce. See increase, longTo move or arrange so as to cover a larger area:
expand, extend, fan1 (out), open (out or up), outstretch, spread, unfold, unroll. See moveTo proceed on a certain course or for a certain distance:
carry, extend, go, lead, reach, run. See reachTo extend, especially an appendage.
Also used with out: outstretch, reach. See reachTo be or place oneself in a prostrate or recumbent position.
Also used with out: lie1 (down), recline, repose. See horizontalTo take repose, as by sleeping or lying quietly.
Also used with out: lie1 (down), recline, repose, rest1. See continue
noun
The measure of how far or long something goes in space, time, or degree:
extent, length, reach, span. See bigAn extent, measured or unmeasured, of linear space:
distance, length, space. (Informal) piece, way. See bigA wide and open area, as of land, sky, or water:
distance, expanse, expansion, extent, reach, space, spread, sweep. See placeA specific length of time characterized by the occurrence of certain conditions or events:
period, season, span, term. See timeA limited or specific period of time during which something happens, lasts, or extends:
duration, span, term, time. See timeA term of service, as in the military or in prison:
hitch, time, tour. See timeA limited, often assigned period of activity, duty, or opportunity:
bout, go, hitch, inning (often used in plural), shift, spell3, stint, time, tour, trick, turn, watch. See time
adjective
Capable of being extended or expanded:
expansible, expansile, extendible, extensible, extensile, protractile, stretchable. See increase
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