array

1 of 2

verb

ar·​ray ə-ˈrā 

arrayed; arraying; arrays

transitive verb

1

: to dress or decorate especially in splendid or impressive attire : adorn

… he had already arrayed himself in his best clothes.

—Thomas Hardy

2

a

: to set or place in order : draw up, marshal

the forces arrayed against us

b

: to set or set forth in order (something, such as a jury) for the trial of a cause

3

: to arrange or display in or as if in an array

The … data are arrayed in descending order.

—Ed Burnett

arrayer noun

array

2 of 2

noun

1

: an imposing group : large number

faced a whole array of problems

also : variety, assortment

a broad array of styles

2

a

: a regular and imposing grouping or arrangement : order

… lined up … in soldierly array …

—Donald Barthelme

b

law : an orderly listing of jurors impaneled

3

a

: clothing, attire

b

: rich or beautiful apparel : finery

4

: a body of soldiers : militia

the baron and his feudal array

5

a(1)

: a number of mathematical elements arranged in rows and columns

(2)

: a data structure in which similar elements of data are arranged in a table

b

: a series of statistical data arranged in classes in order of magnitude

6

: a group of elements forming a complete unit

an antenna array

Synonyms of array

Verb

• adorn
• decorate
• drape
• deck

Noun

• cluster
• collection
• batch
• bunch
• assemblage
• constellation
• group
• grouping
• assortment
• package
• lot
• set

Examples of array in a Sentence

Verb

She arrayed herself in rich velvets and satins.

a door arrayed for the holidays with a beautiful evergreen wreath

Noun

an array of solar panels

an array of baseball gloves in the corner of his room

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Microscale printing advances Using the technique, the team fabricated microtubule arrays with individual tube diameters as small as 6 micrometers. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Line arrays work by suspending multiple speaker cabinets in a curved vertical column, allowing sound engineers to precisely shape the direction and throw of audio across a large space. — Dave Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Noun

The group includes names from an array of sectors, including retail and consumer goods to technology and payments. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 July 2026

Creating the right conditions for different kinds of feeding habits will help diversify the array of birds that feel welcome in your yard. — The Spruce, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English arayen, arrayen "to put in order, prepare, marshal (troops), equip, adorn," borrowed from Anglo-French arraier, arreyer, aroier "to arrange, order, marshal, set in order (a jury, assize), equip, attire, adorn" (continental Old French areer), going back to Vulgar Latin *arrēdāre, from Latin ad- ad- + Vulgar Latin *-rēdāre, in *conrēdāre, presumed adaptation of Gothic garedan "to make provision for" — more at curry entry 1

Note: The forms arrai-, aroi- presumably represent generalizations of the tonic stem of areer. The verb *arrēdāre is common to most Romance languages: Old Occitan arezar "to put in order," Catalan arrear "to provide," Spanish, "to adorn, decorate," Italian arredare "to furnish, equip."

Noun

Middle English aray, array, arraye "preparation, arrangement, condition, line of soldiers, equipment, adornment," borrowed from Anglo-French arrai, arraie "order, arrangement, condition, ordered list of jurors, body of men, entourage, equipment," noun derivative of arraier "to order, array entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for array

• airway
• allay
• archway
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

array

1 of 2 verb

ar·​ray ə-ˈrā 

1

: to set in order : draw up

soldiers arrayed for review

2

: to dress especially in fine clothing : adorn

arrayer noun

array

2 of 2 noun

1

: regular order or arrangement

also : persons (as troops) in array

2

: rich or beautiful clothing

3

: an impressive group : large number

a whole array of problems

also : variety sense 2, assortment

4

: a group of mathematical elements (as numbers or letters) arranged in rows and columns

Legal Definition

array

1 of 2 transitive verb

ar·​ray ə-ˈrā 

: to set (a jury) for trial

specifically : to set (a jury) by calling out the names of the jurors one at a time compare impanel

array

2 of 2 noun

: the group of people summoned to serve as jurors from which the jury will be chosen

also : a list of the jurors' names see also challenge to the array at challenge compare venire