stretch
verb/stretʃ/
/stretʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they stretch | /stretʃ/ /stretʃ/ |
| he / she / it stretches | /ˈstretʃɪz/ /ˈstretʃɪz/ |
| past simple stretched | /stretʃt/ /stretʃt/ |
| past participle stretched | /stretʃt/ /stretʃt/ |
| -ing form stretching | /ˈstretʃɪŋ/ /ˈstretʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] stretch (something) to make something longer, wider or looser, for example by pulling it; to become longer, etc. in this way
- Is there any way of stretching shoes?
- Stop stretching your sleeves like that!
- This sweater has stretched.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- taut
- tautly
- tight
- …
- across
- between
- over
- …
- [intransitive] (of cloth) to become bigger or longer when you pull it and return to its original shape when you stop
- The jeans stretch to provide a perfect fit.
- [transitive] to pull something so that it is smooth and tight
- stretch something (+ adv./prep.) Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.
- Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard.
- stretch something + adj. Make sure that the rope is stretched tight.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- taut
- tautly
- tight
- …
- across
- between
- over
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to put your arms or legs out straight and contract your muscles
- He stretched and yawned lazily.
- Andrea turned out the light and stretched full-length on the bed.
- stretch something The exercises are designed to stretch and tone your leg muscles.
- It was impossible to bend or stretch my legs.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- lazily
- luxuriously
- …
- on
- stretch and yawn
- yawn and stretch
- [intransitive, transitive] to put out an arm or a leg in order to reach something
- + adv./prep. She stretched across the table for the butter.
- She stretched up to reach the top shelf.
- stretch something + adv./prep. I stretched out a hand and picked up the book.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to spread over an area of land synonym extend
- Fields and hills stretched out as far as we could see.
- The traffic jam seemed to stretch for miles.
- A line of cars stretched into the distance.
- The flat landscape stretched to the horizon.
- Beyond the mountains stretches a vast desert.
Extra Examples- The beach seemed to stretch endlessly.
- The road stretched ahead.
- The wood does not stretch very far.
- an area which stretches from London to the north
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- far
- endlessly
- forever
- …
- seem to
- along
- beyond
- from
- …
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to continue over a period of time
- The town's history stretches back to before 1500.
- to stretch back years/decades/generations/centuries
- The training stretches over a period of 16 months.
- Endless summer days stretched out before us.
- The talks look set to stretch into a second week.
- The future stretched out endlessly in front of me.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- endlessly
- back
- out
- …
- before
- into
- [intransitive] stretch (to something) (used in negative sentences and questions about an amount of money) to be enough to buy or pay for something
- I need a new car, but my savings won't stretch to it.
- There are lots of things I’d like to buy, but our budget just won’t stretch that far.
- [transitive] stretch somebody/something to make use of a lot of your money, supplies, time, etc.
- The pandemic has stretched healthcare resources to the limit.
- We can't take on any more work—we're fully stretched as it is.
- The budget is already stretched to breaking point.
Extra Examples- The influx of tourists in the summer stretches the capacity of local transport to its limit.
- Our forces are too thinly stretched to control the chaos.
- The increase in demand has severely stretched our resources.
- Don't stretch yourself too thin financially.
- This department is stretched to its limit.
- [transitive] stretch the lead (to something) to increase your lead over somebody in a game or competition
- A minute later, Kelly stretched their lead to eight points.
- [transitive] stretch somebody/something to make use of all somebody’s skill, intelligence, etc.
- I need a job that will stretch me.
- She was never really stretched at school.
- The book really stretches your imagination.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- really
- severely
- fully
- …
- to
- [transitive] stretch something to use something in a way that would not normally be considered fair, acceptable, etc.
- He admitted that he had maybe stretched the truth a little (= not been completely honest).
- The play's plot stretches credulity to the limit.
make/become bigger/looser
pull tight
your body
reach with arm
over area
over time
money/supplies/time
the lead
somebody’s skill/intelligence
truth/belief
Word OriginOld English streccan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken. The noun dates from the late 16th cent.
Idioms
See stretch in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee stretch in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbend/stretch the rules
- to change the rules to suit a particular person or situation
- Couldn't they just bend the rules and let us in without a ticket?
stretch your legs
- (informal) to go for a short walk after sitting for some time
- It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs.
stretch a point
- to allow or do something that is not usually acceptable, especially because of a particular situation
- I was hoping they would stretch a point and let me stay on for a while.
Check pronunciation:
stretch