plural arcs
1
: the apparent path described above and below the horizon by a celestial body (such as the sun)
2
a
: something arched or curved
b
: a curved path
the arc of a fly ball
c
basketball
: three-point line
At week's end he was shooting 40.0% from behind the arc and averaging 19.6 points.—
Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor3
: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
also
: arc lamp
4
: a continuous portion (as of a circle or ellipse) of a curved line
5
: degree measurement on the circumference of a circle
—used especially in the phrase of arc
11 minutes 3 seconds of arc
6
: a continuous progression or line of development
a story's dramatic arc
1
: to form an electric arc (see arc entry 1 sense 3)
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course
The ball arced across the sky.
: to throw, hit, or kick (something, such as a ball) on a high, arc-shaped course
After driving into the long rough, he reached for a 4-wood and arced the ball just wide of the green.—Jeff Shain
Jeff Shain
mathematics
: inverse sense 2
—used with the trigonometric functions and hyperbolic functions
1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross
ARC
5 of 5abbreviation or noun
plural ARCs
: a copy of a printed work (such as a novel or textbook) sent as a promotion prior to the official release
First, I receive a box of paperback, smaller versions of my book called advance reader copies (ARCs).—Susan Van Kirk
Susan Van KirkWhile some houses like Chronicle Books continued to sell on the show floor, albeit at 50% discount, many publishers offered free ARCs …—Judith Rosen
Judith Rosen
Synonyms
Examples of arc in a Sentence
Noun
He bent the twig into an arc.
The ball floated in a high arc.
Verb
The arrow arced through the air.
A light arced across the sky.
The island chain arcs from north to south.
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The 25,000-mile arc extends through New Zealand, Japan and off the west coast of mainland Asia, around down the west coast of the Americas.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
One way to view the meteoric growth of women’s college basketball is through the career arc of its current protagonist: Caitlin Clark, the University of Iowa’s stone-cold mad bomber.
—Billy Witz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The incorrect arc was covered by paint overnight and replaced by an accurate one in time for Monday’s game, the NCAA said in its most recent statement.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
This UConn collective gashes you on the way to the rim, surgically dismantles you in the mid-range game and snipers your will at the arc.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Both characters have a similar hero-to-villain arc, but one is kept secret, while the other is a false perception.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
His New Blue Sun album is a revelation, not just in the career arc of Andre 3000, but to popular music today.
—Anthony Bryant, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
Keegan Murray is putting up 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
The play traces the evolution of our country’s economy, arcing in parallel with a great American dynasty.
—Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Wild kingdom The last time a total solar eclipse arced over the United States was in 2017.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
The alignment is visible only within a narrow band, the path of totality, which will arc across North America on April 8.
—Katie Peek, Scientific American, 2 Feb. 2024
The Parisian river is the fifth-largest in France and winds directly through the heart of the country’s capital city, with dozens of famous bridges arcing over it.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024
The old tunnel follows a curvy track under Bolton Hill, Upton and Sandtown-Winchester while the new one will arc smoothly to the north under Reservoir Hill and Penn North before emerging near a new West Baltimore MARC station.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024
Virgin Galactic During about three minutes of weightlessness, as Unity arced over the top of its trajectory, the passengers were able to unstrap, float about the cabin and take in spectacular views of Earth far below, before returning to their seats for the plunge back into the lower atmosphere.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2024
The 196-foot-tall (60-meter) rocket arced toward the east through a clear sky, then jettisoned its five boosters to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 11 Sep. 2023
Noun
But the slow-burn arc of the role isn’t quite within his grasp.
—David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The 25,000-mile arc extends through New Zealand, Japan and off the west coast of mainland Asia, around down the west coast of the Americas.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
One way to view the meteoric growth of women’s college basketball is through the career arc of its current protagonist: Caitlin Clark, the University of Iowa’s stone-cold mad bomber.
—Billy Witz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The incorrect arc was covered by paint overnight and replaced by an accurate one in time for Monday’s game, the NCAA said in its most recent statement.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
This UConn collective gashes you on the way to the rim, surgically dismantles you in the mid-range game and snipers your will at the arc.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Both characters have a similar hero-to-villain arc, but one is kept secret, while the other is a false perception.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
His New Blue Sun album is a revelation, not just in the career arc of Andre 3000, but to popular music today.
—Anthony Bryant, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
Keegan Murray is putting up 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
The biggest astronomical event of the year − an April 8 total solar eclipse that will arc across a swath of the United States from Texas to Maine − will be a more inclusive spectacle because of a combination of technology and awareness.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
The play traces the evolution of our country’s economy, arcing in parallel with a great American dynasty.
—Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Wild kingdom The last time a total solar eclipse arced over the United States was in 2017.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
The alignment is visible only within a narrow band, the path of totality, which will arc across North America on April 8.
—Katie Peek, Scientific American, 2 Feb. 2024
The Parisian river is the fifth-largest in France and winds directly through the heart of the country’s capital city, with dozens of famous bridges arcing over it.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024
The old tunnel follows a curvy track under Bolton Hill, Upton and Sandtown-Winchester while the new one will arc smoothly to the north under Reservoir Hill and Penn North before emerging near a new West Baltimore MARC station.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024
Virgin Galactic During about three minutes of weightlessness, as Unity arced over the top of its trajectory, the passengers were able to unstrap, float about the cabin and take in spectacular views of Earth far below, before returning to their seats for the plunge back into the lower atmosphere.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2024
The 196-foot-tall (60-meter) rocket arced toward the east through a clear sky, then jettisoned its five boosters to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 11 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arc.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English ark, from Anglo-French arc bow, from Latin arcus bow, arch, arc — more at arrow
Adjective
arc sine arc or angle (corresponding to the) sine (of so many degrees)
Abbreviation or noun
advanced reader copy
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
circa 1949, in the meaning defined above
Abbreviation Or Noun
2006, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of arc was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing arc
Dictionary Entries Near arc
Cite this Entry
“Arc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arc. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
arc
1 of 2 noun1
a
: something curved
b
: a curved path
2
: a glowing flow of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
3
: a continuous portion of a curved line (as part of the circumference of a circle)
arc
2 of 2 verb1
: to form an electric arc
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course
Medical Definition
arc
1 of 2 noun1
: an arched or curved anatomical part, distance, or pathway see reflex arc
2
: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
ARC
2 of 2 abbreviation1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross
More from Merriam-Webster on arc
Nglish: Translation of arc for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of arc for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arc
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