extent

1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the coach exceeded the extent of his authority by exempting some of the players from the requirement Synonyms bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, limit, limitation, line, terminationRelated Words extremity, fag end, terminus; border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge; outside; bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

2 a wide space or area the seemingly endless extent of the windswept prairies Synonyms breadth, distance, expansion, expanse, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, wasteRelated Words domain, sphere, territory; compass, range, scope, sweep; gamut, scale, spectrum; depth, emptiness, void; extension, latitude, span; amplitude, immensity, magnitude

3 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends the extent of this criminal investigation has widened considerably since it began Synonyms ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, widthRelated Words gamut, spectrum, spread; bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain; frontier; horizon, panorama

4 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something looking at the extent of the stain on my shirt, you might think that I had spilled a gallon of coffee Synonyms bulk, dimension, size, magnitude, measure, measurement, proportionRelated Words area; capaciousness, commodiousness, roominess, spaciousness; ampleness, amplitude, bigness, bulkiness, enormousness, grandness, greatness, grossness, heftiness, hugeness, immenseness, immensity, largeness, mass, massiveness, monstrousness, stupendousness, tremendousness, vastness, volume, voluminousness