Definition of stretch - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
expandtr. make something wider or longer by pullingtr.
- He stretched the rubber band until it snapped..
2.
exercisetr./intr. extend one's limbs or musclestr./intr.
- He stretched his arms before the workout.
3.
physical extensionintr. extend physically from limit to limitintr.
- The road stretches from the city to the coast.
4.
timetr. extend in timetr.
- The meeting stretched into the evening.
5.
efforttr. make great demands on capacitytr.
- The project stretched the team's abilities.
6.
efficiencytr. get more use from limited resourcestr.
- They stretched their budget to cover the expenses.
7.
injurytr. injure a muscle by straintr.
- She stretched a muscle during the race.
8.
speechtr. make inaccurate by exaggerationtr.
- He stretched the truth about his achievements.
Noun
1.
exerciseact of extending one's body or limbs
- He did a stretch before running.
2.
distancelarge or continuous expanse or distance
- The desert is a vast stretch of sand.
3.
durationlength of time
- He served a stretch in prison.
4.
travelUS segment of a journey or routeUS
- We completed the final stretch by car.
5.
elasticityability to lengthen when pulled
- The fabric has a good stretch.
6.
- Hey, Stretch, can you reach that shelf?
7.
sportsUS straight section of a racetrackUS
- The horse sprinted down the stretch.
8.
baseballTECH. US quick pitching delivery in baseballTECH. US
- The pitcher used a stretch to catch the runner.
Adjective
1.
elasticityeasily stretched or expanded
- These pants are made from a stretch material.
2.
furnitureRare having an elongated seating areaRare
- The stretch limousine was very comfortable.
Images of stretch

straight section of a racetrack
Expressions with stretch
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reach out with a body part
He stretched out his hand to grab the book.
last part of a long activity or effort
We are in the home stretch of the project.
make something seem less believable
His excuse for being late stretches credulity.
challenging objective requiring extra effort
The stretch goal motivated the team to work harder and innovate.
walk or otherwise use your lower limbs to ease stiffness
After the long flight, we stopped to stretch our legs.
in one continuous period of time
She can study for five hours at a stretch.
used to say something is not true in any way
This is not correct by any stretch of the imagination!
extend in time to a past period
The tradition stretches back to the 18th century.
walk around after sitting for a long time
After the long flight, I needed to stretch my legs.
allocate limited resources to many tasks
The manager had to stretch resources thin to meet all project deadlines.
use the budget more efficiently
They managed to stretch the budget by cutting unnecessary costs.
exaggerate or distort facts
He tends to stretch the truth when telling stories about his travels..
push something to its maximum capacity or ability
The team stretched their resources to the limits.
expand the meaning of a word or phrase
He tried to stretch the definition of 'urgent' to include his request.
operating at maximum capacity or limit
The factory is running at full stretch to fulfill orders.
absolutely not
By no stretch is this the best solution.
perform a physical exercise to extend muscles
Every morning, I do a stretch to wake up.
in the final part of a race
The horse gained speed down the stretch.
approaching the final phase of a process
We are entering the home stretch of the project.
happening during the last part of an activity or process
We are in the home stretch of the project now.
not even close to being true or enough
This answer is not by a long stretch correct.
close to completing a task or journey
We are on the home stretch of the project.
exaggeration or overstatement
Claiming she invented the internet is quite a stretch.
exaggerate or distort the truth
She stretched a point when she said she had read all the books.
Origin of stretch
Old English, streccan (to stretch)
Terms with stretch included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
exercise stretch
bend down and reach your toes with your hands
measurement
stretch or spread out to a greater length
stretch routine
activity to improve leg flexibility
cat furniture
tall structure for cats to scratch and stretch
physical space
space to stretch the legs while seated
body
stretch out arms, hands, or legs
observation
stretch the neck to see better
material property
ability of a material to bend or stretch under force
physical action
pull or stretch tightly
personal timeline
notable stretch or phase within someone’s years
exercise
stretch one's arms upwards
life changes
stretch when events turn better or worse
material quality
made with elastic material to stretch easily
movement
stretch out a limb or body part
effort
stretch or strain to the utmost
view
stretch the neck to see better
push limits
stretch one's capabilities or resources
exercise
stretch muscles to prepare for exercise
movement
extend or stretch in a particular direction
medical
injury where ankle ligaments stretch or tear after twisting movement
materials testing
not able to stretch or expand
hookes law
stiffness parameter of a spring, equal to applied push divided by stretch
very stretchy
extremely able to stretch and return to shape
geography
continuous extent of water, especially stretch of river between two bends
Examples of stretch in a sentence
They stretched the dough before baking. She stretched her legs after sitting for hours. The coach advised them to stretch before the game. A fence stretches along the property line. The bridge stretches across the narrow bay. The project stretched over several months.
His vacation stretched into the next week. The new role will stretch her skills to the limit. This challenge will stretch your problem-solving abilities. We need to stretch our resources to meet the demand. The company stretched its workforce to handle the project. He stretched his calf muscle while hiking. I think I stretched my back lifting boxes. Don't stretch the story to impress your friends. The report stretched the figures beyond recognition. A morning stretch helps wake up the body. She incorporated a stretch into her daily routine. The highway is a long stretch of road. We walked a stretch of the coastline. After a long stretch without rain, the river rose overnight. She worked nights for a short stretch last winter. The longest stretch of the trip was by train. We walked a short stretch to the hotel. This material offers excellent stretch for active wear. The stretch of the rubber band was impressive. Stretch, can you help me move this table? Hey, Stretch, are you joining the basketball team? The car gained speed on the final stretch. Fans cheered as the runners approached the stretch. He practiced his stretch to improve his game. The coach emphasized the importance of a good stretch. The stretch fabric of the dress made it comfortable to wear. He prefers stretch jeans for their flexibility during travel. The stretch sofa accommodated all the guests. They bought a stretch chair for extra comfort.
View all translations of stretch
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:étirer, étirement, ...
- German:dehnen, Dehnübung, ...
- Italian:allungare, allungamento, ...
- Spanish:estirar, estiramiento, ...
- Portuguese:esticar, alongamento, ...
- Chinese:拉长, 伸展运动, ...
- Japanese:引き伸ばす, ストレッチ, ...
- Arabic:مَدَّ, تَمَدُّد, ...
- Hebrew:לִמְתּוֹחַ, מְתִיחָה, ...
- Russian:растягивать, растяжка, ...
- Ukrainian:розтягувати, розтяжка, ...
- Hindi:खींचना, खिंचाव, ...
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