Stretched Stretch Stretʃ Stretching Make I Stop Limit

• is there any way of stretching shoes?
• stop stretching your sleeves like that!
• this sweater has stretched.
• the jeans stretch to provide a perfect fit.

stretch

Verb Forms

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. to pull something so that it is smooth and tight
• Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.
• Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard.
• Make sure that the rope is stretched tight.
4. 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.
• The exercises are designed to stretch and tone your leg muscles.
• It was impossible to bend or stretch my legs.
5. to put out an arm or a leg in order to reach something
• She stretched across the table for the butter.
• She stretched up to reach the top shelf.
• I stretched out a hand and picked up the book.
6. to spread over an area of land
• SYNONYM extend
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/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
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. to make use of a lot of your money, supplies, time, etc.
• The influx of refugees has stretched the country's 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

• 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.
10. to increase your lead over somebody in a game or competition
• A minute later, Kelly stretched their lead to eight points.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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?
14. to go for a short walk after sitting for some time
• It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs.
15. 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.

Word Origin

• Old English streccan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch strekken and German strecken. The noun dates from the late 16th cent.