range 1 of 2

1
as in pasture
open land over which livestock may roam and feed knew exactly how many head of cattle were turned out on the range that morning to graze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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3
as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes an actor who can go through the full range of emotion, from joy to sorrow, in mere minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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5
as in line
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another from the air, the mountain range stretched as far as we could see in both directions

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6
as in stove
an appliance that prepares food for consumption by heating it the high-end appliances include a professional-quality gas range

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7
as in habitat
the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found the American robin's winter range has steadily extended farther and farther north

Synonyms & Similar Words

range

2 of 2

verb

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as in to vary
to occur within a continuous range of variation the color of Florida grapefruit can range anywhere from pale pink to ruby red

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun range differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of range are compass, gamut, orbit, scope, and sweep. While all these words 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

When might compass be a better fit than range?

Although the words compass and range have much in common, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When could gamut be used to replace range?

While the synonyms gamut and range are close in meaning, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

Where would orbit be a reasonable alternative to range?

The meanings of orbit and range largely overlap; however, 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

When is scope a more appropriate choice than range?

While in some cases nearly identical to range, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

When is it sensible to use sweep instead of range?

The synonyms sweep and range are sometimes interchangeable, but sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of range
Noun
Serafini did shoot Spohr dead that day after laying in wait at the couple's $3.5 million home for hours, but Wood managed to survive despite being shot twice in the head at point blank range. Chris Spargo, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025 What to know: Pay range: $18.41 to $27.75 per hour Hours: 20-40 hours per week Requires: High school diploma or GED With additional permits, building service helpers can become boiler attendants and school engineers. Chesnie Wardell, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Prospera has looser regulations for business involved in fields ranging from cryptocurrency to biotechnology. Rob Stein, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025 Then the county opened a community garden in June at Collier County Park, where annual fees for the garden spaces range from $20 to $35 per year. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for range
Recent Examples of Synonyms for range
Noun
  • Located about an hour south of Hartsfield-Jackson, the 3,800-acre property—filled with pecan groves, pastures, forests, and lakes—is rooted in Visconti di Modrone’s family history.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Now at the helm of the business with a net worth of $7.3 billion, Snyder is expanding In-N-Out into new pastures and wants her family to benefit from the change too.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Bogotá’s secretary of government stated that the event’s private security measures were overwhelmed and clarified that investigations are underway to understand the full scope of what occurred, according to local paper El Tiempo.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Metro and his co-producers nailed the full scope of the futuristic era, from the earworm melodies of neon synths and spooky keys with reverb to the subtleties of the pitter-pattering drum programming.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • On the far other end of the likability spectrum, Blenkin is marvelously repulsive as Boy Kavalier, whose arrogance might be more toxic even than xenomorph blood.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
  • At the other end of the spectrum, the Tennessee Titans‘ ticket revenue jumped 10% to $81 million, but the club still finished No. 32 in the league for the second straight year.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the meantime, the operator said it’s making progress on its remediation plan, including analysis of other areas and additional in-line inspections.
    Joe Sutton, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023
  • The goal of this relationship is to save you time, trouble, and money down the line.
    Brady Slack, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • Customers can outfit their kitchens with new stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators and countertop appliances; their laundry rooms with washers and dryers; yards with barbecue grills; and throughout the home with an assortment of small appliances.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The warmth of the stove, your voice, your thoughts.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • Siargao and Davao, both on the southern Mindanao Island, are respectively popular destinations for surfing and Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak and habitat to the endangered Philippine Eagle, the world’s biggest eagle by length and wing surface area.
    Ian Sayson, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • These kelp forests help provide food and habitats for a wide variety of marine life, including fish, sea otters and seals, per the AP.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The lockbox is fireproof and waterproof and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
    Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As a port city and cultural crossroads, Marseille feels like a fitting host for an artist whose imagination roamed from the Cycladic isles to the Egyptian tomb.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • For nearly two weeks, a black bear roamed Wisconsin with a jar stuck to her head.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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