Word
Definitions
01physical exercise
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Sports
n. the act of pulling your muscles to their full length to stay flexible.
n. a form of physical exercise where specific skeletal muscles are elongated to improve elasticity and muscle tone.
“Daily stretching can help prevent injuries when you go running.”
“The athlete incorporated dynamic stretching into her pre-competition routine to ensure her hamstrings were sufficiently prepared for the sprint.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the activity in general.
Synonyms
02making something longer
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of pulling something to make it longer or wider.
n. the physical act or process by which a material or object is elongated or expanded.
“The constant stretching of the elastic band caused it to snap.”
“The repeated stretching of the leather over the frame ensured a tight, professional fit for the upholstery project.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03challenging
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing a task that is difficult and makes you work hard.
adj. requiring a high level of effort, skill, or performance; testing the limits of one's ability.
“The teacher gave the advanced students a stretching assignment to keep them busy.”
“The board set several stretching targets for the new CEO, designed to push the company toward unprecedented growth within the first fiscal year.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English strecching, strecchinge, equivalent to stretch + -ing.
From Middle English strecchinge, strecchynge, from Old English streċċende, from Proto-West Germanic strakkjandī, present participle of strakkjan (“to stretch”), equivalent to stretch + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/stretching
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR