1. To extend or expand outward to something or some place. The river suddenly opened up and joined with the ocean, the water stretching out to the horizon. My grandfather's land stretches out to the edge of the large black forest.

2. To extend something outward to someone, something, or some place. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "stretch" and "out." The child stretched her hand out to the shopkeeper to take the chocolate bar she had purchased. I stretched the ladle out to reach the pot of soup in the middle of the table.

3. To cause something to lengthen, expand, or distend to something or some place. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used before or after "out." I stretched the tarp out to the other side of the truck bed so that it would cover the timber beams. You can stretch this rubber cable out to the far end of the room.