26984 words

stretch

38 definitions • 60 examples
1
to cause something to reach, often as far as possible, in a particular direction:

Examples:

I tripped on a piece of wire that someone had stretched across the path.
stretch your hand out She stretched out her hand and helped him from his chair.
2
to make your body or your arms and legs straight so that they are as long as possible, in order to exercise the joints (= place where two bones are connected) after you have been in the same place or position for a long time:

Examples:

"I'm so tired," she said, yawning and stretching.
It's a good idea to stretch before you do vigorous exercise.
3
to spread over a large area or distance:

Examples:

stretch for The Andes stretch for 7,250 km along the west coast of South America.
stretch from something to something Unsettled weather will stretch from the middle Mississippi Valley to the southern Middle Atlantic States.
stretch as far as the eye can see The refugee camps stretch as far as the eye can see.
4
to go as far as or past the usual limit of something:

Examples:

be stretched to breaking point Many families' budgets are already stretched to breaking point.
be fully stretched We can't work any harder, Paul. We're already fully stretched.
stretch something to the limit This movie really stretches the patience of the audience to the limit.
stretch the rules Normally, people under 18 aren't allowed, but I guess we can stretch the rules for you as it's your birthday tomorrow.
5
in sport, to force an opponent to run a long way or work very hard:

Examples:

6
to (cause a material to) become longer or wider than usual as a result of pulling at the edges:

Examples:

an exercise to stretch the leg muscles
That elastic band will snap if you stretch it too far.
stretch to This substance stretches to any shape you want.
7
If a material stretches, it can become longer or wider when pulled and then return to its original size:

Examples:

stretch fabric You'll need to stretch the fabric over the frame and secure it or it will snap back.
8
to spread over a long period of time:

Examples:

stretch back The dispute stretches back over many years.
stretch into Although we were supposed to finish this month, it looks like the work will stretch well into next year.
9
to make a process or task continue for a longer period of time than was originally planned:

Examples:

stretch something out I'd like to stretch my mortgage payments out over a longer period if possible.
10
If jobs or tasks stretch you, they make you learn new things that use your skill and experience more than before:

Examples:

My present job doesn't stretch me, so I'm looking for something more demanding.
11
to use the existing name of a brand (= a type of product or service with a particular name) for new products and services that may not seem related:

Examples:

Previous attempts by the pharmacy to stretch the brand into areas such as dentistry and dermatology have failed.
12
a continuous area of land or water:

Examples:

stretch of This particular stretch of coast is especially popular with hikers.
along a five/two/etc.-mile stretch Traffic is at a standstill along a five-mile stretch of the ring-road.
Some very rare birds inhabit our stretch of the river.
13
a stage in a race, or a part of a racetrack:

Examples:

final stretch She looked certain to win as she entered the final stretch.
home stretch He fell as he galloped down the home stretch (= towards the finish).
14
an act of stretching:

Examples:

have a stretch I always have a good stretch when I get up in the morning.
This is a really good stretch for your hip flexors.
15
in baseball, a body position that the pitcher takes before throwing the ball, in which the pitcher must stand with one foot on the rubber and the other foot in front of it, must have their hands held separately at their sides, and then must bring both hands together in front of the chest and stop moving for a short time before throwing the ball towards the batter or to a base to try to end a runner's turn :

Examples:

out of the stretch He pitches out of the stretch when there are runners on base.
16
the fact that something has gone past its usual limits:

Examples:

His idea may be a stretch, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.
17
the degree to which a material can be made longer or wider by pulling:

Examples:

This fabric doesn't have much stretch in it, does it?
18
a continuous period of time:

Examples:

The elderly generally need far less rest than the young, and tend to sleep in several short stretches.
19
a period of time that a criminal spends in prison:

Examples:

Her brother's doing a ten-year stretch for armed robbery.
20
continuously or without any interruptions:

Examples:

for hours, days, etc. at a stretch There's no way I could work for ten hours at a stretch.
21
a job, task, or role that is difficult for someone because it is very different from what they usually do:

Examples:

Playing a budding opera star was not much of a stretch for this classically trained singer.
22
to reach across a distance or become longer or wider, or to cause something to do this:

Examples:

[ I ] Rubber stretches when you pull it.
[ T ] The banner was stretched across the street.
[ M ] He removed his hat and stretched out his arms to embrace her.
23
If you stretch your body, your arms, or your legs, you straighten them so that they are as long as possible:

Examples:

[ T ] "I’m so tired," she said, yawning and stretching her arms.
24
to go beyond, or almost beyond, the usual limit of something:

Examples:

Buying a new dishwasher will really stretch our budget.
We try to stretch ourselves in our reading group, picking books we wouldn’t ordinarily read.
25
to spread over a large area or distance:

Examples:

26
to spread over a long period of time:

Examples:

[ I ] The dispute stretches back over many years.
[ M ] I’d like to stretch my mortgage payments out for 30 years.
27

Examples:

Playing two games in two days is a bit of a stretch for us, but I think we’ll make it.
28
an area of land or water:

Examples:

Traffic is at a standstill along a five-mile stretch of Route 17 just south of Bridgeport.
29
the act of straightening your body, your arms, or your legs so that they are as long as possible:

Examples:

Before jogging, you should always do some stretches.
30
a continuous period of time:

Examples:

We had a long stretch of days with sub-zero temperatures last month.
31
if money or other resources stretch to something, they are enough to buy or pay for something:

Examples:

MPs and many within the pensions industry are concerned £400m will not stretch far enough.
stretch to sth Our budget won't stretch to hiring any new workers.
32
to make money or resources last longer than was originally planned:

Examples:

City officials are currently struggling with how to stretch limited water supplies.
33
if something stretches money or other resources, it uses nearly all the money or resources available so that there is very little left:

Examples:

be stretched to breaking point/the limit The aviation infrastructure has been stretched to breaking point.
be stretched thin When people and funding are stretched thin, companies may find they're not putting enough resources behind the ideas that promise the greatest shareholder returns.
stretch a budget/finances The takeover will stretch the company's finances.
34
to use a brand that already exists to sell new and different products and services:

Examples:

The company is trying to stretch its brand to cover anything that can be sold online.
35
to force someone to use all their intelligence or skills:

Examples:

My current job isn't really stretching me enough.
36
used to describe something that you think will be very difficult to achieve, very expensive, etc.:

Examples:

The price tag on the business may prove to be a stretch.
37
if you do something for 20 hours, etc. at a stretch, you do it continuously for that period of time:

Examples:

Workers on an oil rig often do 12-hour days for 14 days at a stretch.
38
to be working as hard as you possibly can:

Examples:

OPEC members are at full stretch and cannot pump more oil.

Navigation