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upstretched

upstretched

5.4
Held up toward the sky, like arms or branches
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌpˈstrɛtʃt/
translation icon : extendido
  • In celebration, she raised her upstretched hands and twirled in joy during the festival.
  • upstretched hands

Examples

  • A boy races past with a red car in his upstretched hand.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Come on, way upstretched.

  • OK, now put your arms upstretched.

  • Arms upstretched.

  • He took off his T-shirt and wadded it up for Dr. Richards to use as a hot pad, and helped support his tiring upstretched arm.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • They walked up to inspect Inman and peered at him with upstretched necks, their slotted yellow eyes bright and smart.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • She could imagine herself, outlined against the bruised sky: the long wild skirt, the slender ankles below, the upstretched hands, and the tangled mane of hair.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The children reached their upstretched arms toward the sky, trying to touch the clouds.

  • As the sun set, the tree branches stood tall with their upstretched limbs silhouetted against the glowing horizon.

Synonyms

outstretched
vsupstretched
18 3.7

Held out as far as possible, like arms or wings

stretches specifically upward rather than merely reaching outward
extended
vsupstretched
4 3.5

Stretched out to a longer length in space

focuses on upward extension rather than general lengthening
upraised
vsupstretched
  • Archaic
4.8

Held high in the air, like a hand or torch

involves stretching upward fully rather than only lifting

How High

overhead
79 2.0
upstretched
5.4
raised
1.0
lowered
1.3

Surface Forms

upstretched positive

Morphology

upstretched = upstretch (transparent) = up + stretch + ed

Formed from the verb 'upstretch' (up + stretch) with the participial suffix '-ed', so the adjectival meaning is directly derived and easily inferred by learners who know 'up' and 'stretch'.

Etymology

Upstretched comes from the simple parts up- 'up' and stretch 'to reach'. So it gives the picture of arms, branches, or other things reaching upward, which is why we use it for something extended up.