ranch

1 of 2

noun

ˈranch 

1

: a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep

2

: a farm or area devoted to a particular specialty

3

: ranch house

ranch

2 of 2

verb

ranched; ranching; ranches

intransitive verb

: to live or work on a ranch

transitive verb

1

: to work as a rancher on

2

: to raise on a ranch

Synonyms of ranch

Noun

• farm

Examples of ranch in a Sentence

Noun

lives on a cattle ranch in Texas that's as big as the whole state of Rhode Island

Verb

My grandfather started ranching here 150 years ago.

The family has ranched 10,000 acres here for the past 150 years.

The family has been ranching cattle here for 150 years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her home is in a peaceful farm-and-ranch town in Stanislaus County, just outside of Modesto, about 75 miles from Sacramento, 100 from Fresno. — Trevor Morgan, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

Steve Howey’s Levi Mysterious mountain man and half brother of Staten, Levi (Steve Howey) also gave Staten a huge nudge in the right direction in terms of the ranch battle and how to re-evaluate his priorities. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 July 2026

Verb

Fountain said many of his ranching clients sell conservation easements to keep land in the family and use the proceeds to pay off debt or buy out younger family members who aren't interested in ranching. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Advertisement For me, a son of the American Southwest, where my family has farmed and ranched for over 400 years, this is personal. — Ken Salazar, Time, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Mexican Spanish rancho small ranch, from Spanish, camp, hut & Spanish dialect, small farm, from Old Spanish ranchearse to take up quarters, from Middle French se ranger to take up a position, from ranger to set in a row — more at range

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1851, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing ranch

• dude ranch
• raised ranch
• ranch dressing
• ranch hand
• ranch house

Rhymes for ranch

• blanch
• branch
• cranch
• manche
• stanch
• tranche
• avalanche

Kids Definition

ranch

1 of 2 noun

ˈranch 

1

: a place for the raising of livestock (as cattle, horses, or sheep) on range

2

: a farm devoted to a specific crop or kind of animal

a fruit ranch

a mink ranch

3

: ranch house sense 2

ranch

2 of 2 verb

: to live or work on a ranch