1. to make something longer or wider by pulling
拉長，伸展
She stretched the elastic band before letting it go.
她在放開橡皮筋前先把它拉長。
The cat stretched its body after a long nap.
貓咪在長時間小睡後伸展了身體。
Stretch Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
stretch
verb
快速理解
What does "Stretch" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Stretch"?
「stretch」主要指將物體拉長、伸展身體，或用於描述時間、資源的延伸。
- 1
拉長、伸展
EN: to make something longer or wider by pulling it
翻譯: 透過拉扯使某物變長或變寬
- 2
伸展身體
EN: to extend your body or limbs to full length
翻譯: 將身體或四肢完全伸展開來
- 3
延伸、延續
EN: to extend over a period of time or cover a range
翻譯: 持續一段時間或涵蓋一個範圍
- 4
盡力達到、勉強夠用
EN: to make something go as far as possible or be sufficient
翻譯: 使某物盡可能達到或勉強足夠
小提醒：「stretch」用於時間時，常指「一段時間」，如「a stretch of two weeks」（兩週的時間），而非僅指「拉伸時間」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Stretch" in English）
How to pronounce "Stretch" in English?"Stretch" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Stretch" from YouTube Videos
What fear can teach us | Karen Thompson Walker
TED
“But they knew that the sheer length of this journey would stretch their supplies of food and water, To be eaten by cannibals, to be battered by storms, to starve to death before reaching land.”
(1 out of 28)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Stretch"?How does "Stretch" change by context?
2. to extend one's body or limbs to relieve stiffness
伸展（身體或四肢）以舒緩僵硬
He stood up and stretched his arms above his head.
他站起來，將雙臂高舉過頭伸展。
It's important to stretch before exercising.
運動前伸展很重要。
3. to extend over a period of time or a distance
延續，延伸（時間或距離）
The meeting stretched into the late afternoon.
會議一直延續到傍晚。
The desert stretches for hundreds of miles.
這片沙漠綿延數百英里。
4. to push something to or beyond its usual limits
使達到極限，充分利用
The budget is already stretched to the limit.
預算已經用到極限了。
This challenge will stretch your abilities.
這項挑戰將考驗你的能力極限。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Stretch"?How to make natural sentences with "Stretch"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| stretch + noun | 伸展（某物） | She stretched her arms after waking up. (她醒來後伸展了一下手臂。) |
| stretch + noun + adverb/prepositional phrase | 將（某物）伸展至... | He stretched the rubber band to its limit. (他把橡皮筋拉到極限。) |
| stretch + adverb/prepositional phrase | （身體部位）伸展到... | The cat stretched out on the warm floor. (貓在溫暖的地板上伸展開來。) |
| stretch + from + place + to + place | 從...延伸到... | The forest stretches from the river to the mountains. (這片森林從河邊一直延伸到山腳下。) |
| stretch + noun + over + time period | 將（某物）延長/分散在一段時間內 | We can stretch the budget over two months. (我們可以把預算分攤到兩個月內使用。) |
| stretch + to + verb (infinitive) | 勉強達到（做某事） | Our resources won't stretch to buy a new car. (我們的資源不夠買一輛新車。) |
| stretch + the truth | 誇大其詞，言過其實 | I think he's stretching the truth about his past achievements. (我覺得他誇大了他過去的成就。) |
| stretch + oneself | 伸展身體；挑戰自我極限 | The yoga class really helped me stretch myself. (那堂瑜伽課真的幫我好好伸展了身體。) |
用法說明
How is "Stretch" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Stretch"?
stretch doing vs stretch to do
- stretch doing 通常指「延伸/伸展某個持續性的動作或狀態」，強調動作本身的延續性。
- stretch to do 則常指「延伸/伸展（能力、資源、時間等）以達成某個目的或完成某件事」，強調目的性。
- 在表示「勉強去做某事」或「（在能力、預算上）勉強達到」時，常用 stretch to do 或 stretch oneself to do。
- 當 stretch 意指「拉長（時間）」時，後面可接動名詞（doing）表示拉長做某事的時間，或接不定詞（to do）表示拉長時間以便去做另一件事。 EN: The meeting stretched talking about the budget for two hours. 翻譯: 會議在預算討論上延長了兩小時。
EN:We'll have to stretch the meeting to finish the agenda.
翻譯:我們必須延長會議才能完成議程。
EN:He stretched working on the project late into the night.
翻譯:他熬夜工作，把專案時間拉得很長。
EN:Our budget won't stretch to buy the premium version.
翻譯:我們的預算不夠，買不起高級版本。
總結建議
一般來說，表示「延伸以達成某目的」時用 stretch to do，而描述「延伸某個進行中的活動」時則用 stretch doing。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Stretch" and similar words?How to choose "Stretch" vs alternatives?
stretch vs extend
「stretch」強調拉長或伸展物體本身（如肌肉、布料），使其變長或變緊；「extend」則更常指增加長度、範圍或時間，或使某物達到更遠的點。
stretch vs expand
「stretch」主要指線性地拉長或伸展；「expand」則指在各個方向（體積、規模、範圍）上擴大或增長。
stretch vs pull
「stretch」專注於使物體變長或變緊的動作；「pull」是更通用的詞，指施加力將物體拉向自己或某個方向，不一定改變其形狀。
口語用法
How is "Stretch" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Stretch"?
引述
在轉述他人要求或描述某種情況時，常用來表示「盡力而為」或「勉強達到」。 EN: He said he'd stretch the deadline for me, but only by a day. 翻譯: 他說他會為我延長截止日期，但只延一天。
EN:Can you stretch the rules a little this time?
翻譯:這次能不能稍微通融一下？
語氣強調
用於強調某件事在能力、資源或事實上的極限，常與 "to" 或 "as far as" 連用。 EN: I'm stretching myself thin trying to manage both projects. 翻譯: 我同時管理兩個專案，已經忙到極限了。
EN:My budget won't stretch to cover a vacation this year.
翻譯:我的預算今年不夠支應度假的開銷。
停頓填充
在思考或尋找合適字眼時，作為口語中的填充詞，通常以 "stretching it" 或 "let me stretch that thought" 的形式出現。 EN: That's a bit of a stretch... but maybe it could work. 翻譯: 這有點牽強……但也許行得通。
EN:The truth, well, stretching it a bit, is that we started late.
翻譯:事實嘛，說得委婉一點，是我們開始晚了。
正式寫作注意：上述口語用法，特別是「停頓填充」中的非完整句式，在正式報告、學術論文或商業文件中應避免使用，以保持文體的嚴謹與清晰。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Stretch"?What fixed phrases with "Stretch" should I remember?
stretch one's legs
verb phrase
伸展雙腿；起身走動（尤指久坐後）
stretch the truth
verb phrase
誇大其詞；言過其實
stretch to the limit
verb phrase
拉伸到極限；使達到極限
stretch out
phrasal verb
伸展開來；延長；拉長
stretch one's imagination
verb phrase
發揮想像力
stretch a point
verb phrase
破例通融；放寬規定
stretch back
phrasal verb
追溯至（某個時間點）
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Stretch"?Which "Stretch" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I need to stretch my body.
✓I need to stretch.
在英文中，'stretch' 本身通常已包含伸展身體部位的意思，加上 'my body' 顯得多餘且不自然。直接說 'stretch' 或具體說明伸展的部位（如 'stretch my legs'）即可。
×The meeting stretched for two hours.
✓The meeting stretched on for two hours. / The meeting lasted two hours.
'stretch' 表示持續一段（通常比預期更長的）時間時，常與 'on' 連用（'stretch on'），或使用 'last' 更為直接。單獨使用 'stretch' 在此語境下較不自然。
×Can you stretch the meaning of this word?
✓Can you stretch the definition of this word? / That's stretching the meaning of the word.
表達「曲解或過度延伸某個字的意思」時，更常見的說法是 'stretch the definition' 或使用 'That's stretching it' 這類固定片語。單用 'stretch the meaning' 較不典型。
×I stretched the bread.
✓I stretched the dough.
'stretch' 用於食物時，通常指「揉麵團」使其延展，對象是 'dough'。對於已烤好的 'bread'（麵包），不會使用 'stretch' 這個動詞。
×This material stretches easily.
✓This material is stretchy. / This material stretches.
形容材質「有彈性」的常用形容詞是 'stretchy'。雖然 'stretches easily' 文法正確，但聽起來不自然。'This material stretches.' 是簡單且正確的說法。
×He stretched to reach the book.
✓He stretched (out) to reach the book.
描述「伸手去夠某物」時，'stretch' 常與副詞 'out' 連用（'stretch out'），或直接接 'for something'（'stretch for the book'）。單獨使用 'stretch to reach' 較不流暢。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Stretch"?What are tense/participle forms of "Stretch"?
stretches(3rd_singular)stretching(present_participle)stretched(past)stretched(past_participle)