Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

scope

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of scope

an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
  • the company's scope of operations now spans two continents
Synonyms of scope

ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, sweep, width
Words Related to scope

gamut, spectrum, spread

bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain

frontier

horizon, panorama

Synonym Discussion of scope

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

Learn More about scope

  1. See words that rhyme with scope Dictionary: Definition of scope Medical Dictionary: Definition of scope Spanish Central: Translation of scope Nglish: Translation of scope for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scope for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up scope? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gibbous

irregularly rounded

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  2. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

  3. apoplectic Bezos writes post about Pecker

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games