bough

noun

ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bough (audio)
Definition of boughnext
as in branch
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bough Then use dead leaves, small boughs, or wood chips to fill in open spaces and make the bottom layer roughly level with the stump. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026 Laying the boughs over perennial beds for the winter to afford them protection from cold and wind. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026 Spray the underside of the branches, focusing on the cut ends of the boughs, Hunter says, because that’s where the moisture can be absorbed the fastest. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025 Saturnalia, in honor of the sun god, Saturn, included decorating homes with evergreen boughs, wreaths and garlands to symbolize renewal. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bough
  1. branch
  2. limb
Noun
  • Its entire weight is suspended from the branches of a living Akagi tree, without a single support column fixed into the ground.
    — Shannon Sharpe, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Construction will begin soon on a new Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • The axolotl, which comes from the shrinking wetlands of Mexico City, is known for its rare ability to regrow limbs and other body parts.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Here the picture gets both less clear and, like the gods’ and goddesses’ limbs and faces, more manifold.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb

Browse Nearby Words

bottoms
bough
boughs
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Cite this Entry

“Bough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bough. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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