fan out

phrasal verb

fanned out; fanning out; fans out

: to spread apart or to cause (something) to spread apart

The police fanned out across the park in search of the suspect.

He fanned out his fingers.

Examples of fan out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

With a squad of rebels fanned out to watch for army patrols or helicopters, the unit commander and I and a few others talked for four hours. —

Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024 Where to eat: Start with an old diner in the middle of town, then fan out from there. —

Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024 Faux pine branches, spindly twigs, and pinecones fan out from a natural grapevine base in this 24-inch Amazon wreath that’s ready to hang with the attached wire loop. —

Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024 New hope for an agreement had senior Biden administration officials fanning out across the Middle East this week with the goal of closing on a critical pact by the end of 2024. —

Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fan out