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Glite Dictionary
to fan out

to fan out

30 3.7
To spread out from one point in different directions
  • phrasal verb
  • /fæn aʊt/
translation icon : dispersarse
  • The search team was instructed to fan out in various directions to locate the missing hiker.
  • fanned out across the city

They look up, they fan out their cards more, and the door slams again.

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Examples

Synonyms

to spread
vsto fan out
664 1.6

To put a thin layer over a surface

implies movement outward from one center point rather than general covering
to spread out
vsto fan out
24 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

focuses on spreading outward from a single center rather than arranging to cover area
to flare
vsto fan out
15 4.1

To become wider at one end or edge

moves outward from a central point into different directions rather than widening at one edge
to radiate
vsto fan out
8 5.0

To spread outward from a central point

describes only outward movement away from center rather than inward movement
to flare out
vsto fan out
1 3.8

To become wider at one end like a dress or vase

starts from a single center and spreads in many directions not just at one end
to divaricate
vsto fan out
  • Specialized
9.9

To spread apart from a common point like fingers or branches

focuses on even outward spreading from a central point rather than branching
to dispread
vsto fan out
  • Archaic
9.9

To move outward in many directions to cover a wide area

originates from a central point rather than simply spreading broadly without a center

Antonyms

to converge
51 5.5

To come together from different places and meet at one point

How Wide

to spread
664 1.6
to fan out
30 3.7
to radiate
8 5.0
to part
241 2.9
to cluster
41 3.5

Surface Forms

fan out infinitive
fanned out past
fanned out past participle
fanning out present participle
fans out third person singular

Morphology

fan + out

The literal sense of 'fan' (to move air) plus 'out' (away/outward) yields a clear directional image of things spreading from a center, so a learner can often infer the meaning. However this is a metaphorical extension (things 'open like a fan') rather than a strictly compositional verb+particle pattern, so the sense is only partially predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Fan out comes from the image of a hand fan opening out into a wide shape. That's why it means 'to spread out' from one point into many directions, like a search team or birds moving apart.