branch out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “branch out” mean?
To expand or diversify one's activities, interests, or business into new areas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To expand or diversify one's activities, interests, or business into new areas.
To move beyond one's usual or original scope, to venture into new fields or directions, often from a central or established position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the phrasal verb is used identically. Minor potential differences in preposition use following (e.g., 'branch out into' vs. 'branch out in') are not systematic.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in business and professional contexts, but equally frequent in general usage in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “branch out” in a Sentence
Subject + branch out + (into + NP)Subject + branch out + (from + NP)Subject + branch out + (on + Possessive + own)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “branch out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The family-run bakery is branching out and opening a café.
- After ten years as a portrait painter, she decided to branch out into sculpture.
American English
- The tech startup branched out from software into hardware.
- He's been a mechanic forever but wants to branch out and try teaching.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The firm is branching out into renewable energy.
Academic
Her research branched out from pure linguistics into cognitive science.
Everyday
I'm thinking of branching out and learning a new instrument.
Technical
The neural network architecture branches out into multiple specialised sub-networks.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “branch out”
- Incorrect: 'She branched out of her business.' Correct: 'She branched out from her original business.' or 'She branched out into new markets.'
- Using 'branch out' for simple increase in same activity (e.g., 'He branched out his sales' – incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral; suitable for both everyday conversation and professional/business contexts.
'Into' is the most common, used to specify the new area of activity (e.g., 'branch out into marketing').
Yes, both subjects are very common. It applies to any entity that can expand its activities.
'Expand' can mean simply getting bigger in the same field. 'Branch out' strongly implies moving into a different or new type of activity.
To expand or diversify one's activities, interests, or business into new areas.
Branch out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɑːntʃ ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbræntʃ ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Spread one's wings (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tree BRANCH growing OUTwards from the trunk into new space.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT IS PHYSICAL EXPANSION (like a tree branch); DIVERSIFICATION IS MOVING INTO NEW TERRITORY.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'branch out' correctly?