1
b
: the amount of space or surface that something occupies or the distance over which it extends : magnitude
the extent of the forest
c
: the point, degree, or limit to which something extends
using talents to the greatest extent
2
a
: seizure (as of land) in execution of a writ of extent in Great Britain
also
: the condition of being so seized
b
: a writ giving to a creditor temporary possession of his debtor's property
3
archaic
: valuation (as of land) in Great Britain especially for taxation
Examples of extent in a Sentence
She tried to determine the extent of the damage.
the full extent of human knowledge
He questions the extent to which these remedies are needed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Parcels can arrive damaged to some extent, or drift away and become hard to retrieve.
—
New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2025
Williams is expected to assess the extent of the damage and potential knock-on effects for the rest of the weekend once the car is back under the team’s control.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Even still, the experts who work at the intersection of climate change and finance say that both companies and markets fail to grasp the extent of these risks.
—Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
How long the price will stay elevated depends on updates from Chevron about the extent of the damage and how long repairs will take.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extent
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New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2025
Williams is expected to assess the extent of the damage and potential knock-on effects for the rest of the weekend once the car is back under the team’s control.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Even still, the experts who work at the intersection of climate change and finance say that both companies and markets fail to grasp the extent of these risks.
—Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
How long the price will stay elevated depends on updates from Chevron about the extent of the damage and how long repairs will take.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extent
Cite this Entry
“Extent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extent. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extent
noun
ex·tent
ik-ˈstent 
1
: the range, distance, or space over or through which something extends
the extent of the Roman empire
2
: the point, degree, or limit to which something extends
the extent of her knowledge
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