range 1 of 2

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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

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Relevance
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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

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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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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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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

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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

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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
Gold hardware and an abundance of pockets decorated Zimmermann’s range of true indigo flares, bell-bottoms and jackets with voluminous sleeves. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025 Trump has mused publicly about the possibility of sending the Tomahawks, which have a range of up to 1,500 miles, to Ukraine, while Zelenskyy has said a sale of the long-range weapons could bolster its war effort. Chris Boccia, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Lowe’s has a wide selection ranging from 12-foot animatronic scarecrows, 10-foot reapers, and even an in-ground Kraken, — which sold out in just five hours in July 2024. Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 Daytime temperatures will range from the mid-60s to low 70s, with nighttime lows dipping into the mid-50s, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento. Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for range
Recent Examples of Synonyms for range
Noun
  • Most of this cattle are free range and the grass pastures are large.
    Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
  • These days, entrepreneurial sorts are likely to flee entertainment for the booming pastures of AI.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But this scene is much bigger in scope with over 100 people involved.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Lou Tobin, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys' Association, said prosecutors have narrowed their scope for death penalty cases and primarily pursue it when a child or multiple people die.
    Haley BeMiller, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Amid an iffy outlook for the fashion and luxury sectors, trustworthiness factors in across the brand spectrum, from mega to micro, especially as the research shows that almost 50 percent of respondents do not feel linked to any brand specifically, despite following many.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Burghardt wrote the script for the movie, which World Of Reel previously revealed will tell the story of a young woman on the autism spectrum who breaks free from her overprotective but loving mother in search of freedom, friendship, and a little chaos in the summer after high school graduation.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Where to stay On a quiet side street in the Latin Quarter, near the Jardin des Plantes and a 30-minute stroll from the catacombs is the Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, which opened in March 2025.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • La Push, also featured in the saga, is a Quileute village, with beautiful, remote beaches great for strolls, surfing, and storm-watching.
    Christina Fang, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Also on Sunday, Sturm scratched second line center Casey Mittelstadt, moving Pavel Zacha to center and re-inserting Khusnutdinov back into the lineup and onto the second line.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
  • But the problem right away was the Colts’ O-line just being too good.
    Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • According to court records, Djerf splashed gasoline on the Luna family members' bodies and throughout the house, turned on some of the kitchen stove burners and placed an empty pizza box and a rag on the stove before leaving.
    Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • There was grease buildup on the floor under the deep fryer and stove, a repeat violation.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • According to the study, Igatuia Cavernicola likely plays an important role in its cave ecosystem by eating decomposing organic matter, thereby cycling nutrients and contributing to the habitat’s overall health and function.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Additionally, the invading trees and shrubs also compete with prairie plants for light, water, and space, often pushing the grassland plants out of the way and diminishing the habitat options available to animals that depend on native plants.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Related Stories In a nutsell, the test arranged by the cutter’s union documented that AI tools are great for organizing, classifying and summarizing.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Police and the media classified Gacy’s victims as male prostitutes and homosexuals, using that as an excuse to marginalize and blame them.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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