range

noun

ˈrānj 

plural ranges

often attributive

1

a(1)

: a series of things in a line : row

(2)

: a series of mountains

(3)

: one of the north-south rows of townships in a U.S. public-land survey that are numbered east and west from the principal meridian of the survey

b

: an aggregate of individuals in one order

c

: a direction line

2

: a cooking stove that has an oven and a flat top with burners or heating elements

3

a

: a place that may be ranged over

b

: an open region over which animals (such as livestock) may roam and feed

c

: the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs

4

: the act of ranging about

5

a(1)

: the horizontal distance to which a projectile can be propelled

(2)

: the horizontal distance between a weapon and target

b

: the maximum distance a vehicle or craft can travel without refueling

c(1)

: a place where shooting is practiced : firing range

(2)

: driving range

6

a

: the space or extent included, covered, or used : scope

b

: the extent of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument

7

a

: a sequence, series, or scale between limits

a wide range of patterns

b

: the limits of a series : the distance or extent between possible extremes

c

: the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution

8

a

: the set of values a function may take on

b

: the class of admissible values of a variable

9

: line sense 11

Synonyms of range

• pasture
• ranch
• yard

Choose the Right Synonym for range

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control).

range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

Examples of range in a Sentence

knew exactly how many head of cattle were turned out on the range that morning to graze

didn't know she had such a wide range of knowledge until I talked to her

Recent Examples on the Web

As for levels, experts are watching the mid-$60,000 range for initial action, if bitcoin breaks that support it could see a much sharper fall. —Joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 3 June 2026

My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

This hotel has a range of restaurants that lure locals aplenty. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The team has found that a wide range of unrelated fish species have independently evolved the same basic walking gait, which essentially mimics a swimming motion on land, according to a statement. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, row of persons, from Anglo-French range, renge, from renger to range

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing range

• at close range
• driving range
• dynamic range
• firing range
• free-range
• gun range
• home range
• long-range
• outside the range/realm of possibility
• radio range
• range finder
• range/realm of possibility
• short-range
• within the range/realm of possibility

Rhymes for range

• change
• grange
• mange
• strange
• arrange
• derange
• estrange
• exchange
• midrange
• interchange
• rearrange

Kids Definition

range

1 of 2 noun

ˈrānj 

1

: a series of things in a line

a range of mountains

2

: a cooking stove

3

a

: open land over which livestock may roam and feed

b

: the place where a certain kind of animal or plant naturally lives

4

: the act of ranging about

5

a

: the maximum distance a weapon can shoot, a missile can travel, or a vehicle can go without refueling

b

: the distance between a weapon and its target

c

: a place where shooting is practiced

a rifle range

6

a

: the distance or amount included or gone over : scope

the range of one's knowledge

b

: the extent of pitch covered by a voice or instrument or a melody

7

a

: a sequence, series, or scale between limits

out of our price range

a wide range of colors

b

: the difference between the least and greatest of a set of values

range

2 of 2 verb

ranged; ranging

1

a

: to set in a row or in proper order

b

: to set in place among others of the same kind

2

: to roam freely

3

: to vary within limits

the temperature ranged from 50° to 90°

Medical Definition

range

1 of 2 noun

ˈrānj 

often attributive

1

: the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs

2

: the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution

range

2 of 2 intransitive verb

ranged; ranging

1

: to change or differ within limits

symptoms range in severity from mild to severe

2

of an organism : to live or occur in or be native to a region