# stretch

/ˈstɹɛtʃ/ (US) · /stɹˈɛtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stretch
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to lengthen or pull tight

verb · CEFR B1

to pull something so that it becomes longer or wider.

For teachers: to extend or draw out to a greater length or width by force; also to pull a material until it is taut.

- Be careful not to stretch the sweater when you wash it by hand.
- The canvas must be stretched tightly across the wooden frame before any primer is applied to the surface.

### 2. body movement

verb · CEFR A2

to straighten your arms or legs to make your muscles feel better.

For teachers: to extend one's limbs or body to full length, typically to improve muscle elasticity or relieve tension.

- I always stretch my legs for ten minutes after I go for a run.
- Yoga practitioners often stretch their hamstrings using straps to ensure they maintain proper alignment during the pose.

### 3. to cover an area

verb · CEFR B1

to spread over a large area or distance.

For teachers: to extend over a distance or area, or to reach from one point to another.

- The green fields stretch all the way to the mountains in the distance.
- The coastline stretches for hundreds of miles, featuring a diverse array of cliffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves.

### 4. to challenge or use fully

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone use all of their skill or to make a small amount of something last longer.

For teachers: to tax or demand the full use of resources or abilities; also to make a limited resource suffice for a longer period.

- This new project will really stretch your creative skills.
- The charity had to stretch its remaining funds to cover the unexpected increase in emergency applications during the winter months.

### 5. an area or distance

noun · CEFR B2

a continuous area of land or water.

For teachers: a continuous expanse or distance of something, such as a road, river, or coastline.

- This stretch of the motorway is very dangerous when it rains.
- The rowers struggled against the current on the final stretch of the river before reaching the finish line.

### 6. a period of time

noun · CEFR B2

a continuous period of time.

For teachers: a continuous or unbroken period of time spent in a particular activity or state.

- She worked for a long stretch without taking any holidays.
- After a long stretch of unemployment, he was relieved to finally receive a formal job offer from the engineering firm.

### 7. unlikely or exaggerated

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something that is difficult to believe or seems like an exaggeration.

For teachers: an interpretation or statement that goes beyond what is strictly logical or supported by facts.

- Calling him a genius is a bit of a stretch, but he is very clever.
- To suggest that the minor policy change caused the entire economic recovery is a significant stretch of the imagination.

### 8. prison sentence

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a period of time spent in prison.

For teachers: a term of imprisonment.

- He served a five-year stretch for his part in the robbery.
- The convict was determined to stay out of trouble after completing a ten-year stretch in a high-security facility.

## Examples

- This is a very long stretch of road.
- The marathon runners faced a difficult uphill stretch during the final three miles of the race.
- After a long stretch of rainy weather, the sudden appearance of the sun brought the entire neighborhood out into their gardens to begin the spring planting.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.