Stretchy describes something that can be pulled longer or wider and then return to its original shape. A rubber band is stretchy: you can pull it to twice its length, and when you let go, it snaps back. Your favorite T-shirt might be stretchy, made from fabric that gives when you move but doesn't stay baggy.

Materials become stretchy when they're made of substances that can bend and bounce back, like elastic, spandex, or natural rubber. A stretchy fabric makes clothes more comfortable because they move with your body instead of restricting you. Gymnasts and dancers wear stretchy clothing so they can bend, jump, and twist freely.

The word also describes how something behaves. Play-Doh is stretchy when warm but gets stiff when it dries out. Pizza dough becomes stretchy as you knead it, which is why you can toss it in the air and stretch it into a thin circle. Even time can feel stretchy: when you're having fun, an hour can seem to stretch and last forever, giving you what feels like endless time to play.