extent

1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <the coach exceeded the extent of his authority by exempting some of the players from the requirement> Synonyms bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, limit, limitation, line, terminationRelated Words extremity, fag end, terminus; border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge; outside; bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

2 a wide space or area <the seemingly endless extent of the windswept prairies> Synonyms breadth, distance, expansion, expanse, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, wasteRelated Words domain, sphere, territory; compass, range, scope, sweep; gamut, scale, spectrum; depth, emptiness, void; extension, latitude, span; amplitude, immensity, magnitude

3 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the extent of this criminal investigation has widened considerably since it began> Synonyms ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, widthRelated Words gamut, spectrum, spread; bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain; frontier; horizon, panorama

4 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <looking at the extent of the stain on my shirt, you might think that I had spilled a gallon of coffee> Synonyms bulk, dimension, {h,1}size, magnitude, measure, measurement, proportionRelated Words area; capaciousness, commodiousness, roominess, spaciousness; ampleness, amplitude, bigness, bulkiness, enormousness, grandness, greatness, grossness, heftiness, hugeness, immenseness, immensity, largeness, mass, massiveness, monstrousness, stupendousness, tremendousness, vastness, volume, voluminousness