arc

1 of 5

noun

plural arcs
1
: the apparent path described above and below the horizon by a celestial body (such as the sun)
2
a
: something arched or curved
b
: a curved path
the arc of a fly ball
c
basketball : three-point line
At week's end he was shooting 40.0% from behind the arc and averaging 19.6 points.Phil Taylor
3
: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
also : arc lamp
4
: a continuous portion (as of a circle or ellipse) of a curved line
5
: degree measurement on the circumference of a circle
used especially in the phrase of arc
11 minutes 3 seconds of arc
6
: a continuous progression or line of development
a story's dramatic arc

arc

2 of 5

verb

arced ˈärkt How to pronounce arc (audio) ; arcing ˈär-kiŋ How to pronounce arc (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to form an electric arc (see arc entry 1 sense 3)
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course
The ball arced across the sky.

transitive verb

: to throw, hit, or kick (something, such as a ball) on a high, arc-shaped course
After driving into the long rough, he reached for a 4-wood and arced the ball just wide of the green.Jeff Shain

arc

3 of 5

adjective

mathematics
: inverse sense 2
used with the trigonometric functions and hyperbolic functions

ARC

4 of 5

abbreviation

1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross

ARC

5 of 5

abbreviation or noun

plural ARCs
: a copy of a printed work (such as a novel or textbook) sent as a promotion prior to the official release
First, I receive a box of paperback, smaller versions of my book called advance reader copies (ARCs).Susan Van Kirk
While some houses like Chronicle Books continued to sell on the show floor, albeit at 50% discount, many publishers offered free ARCsJudith Rosen

Examples of arc in a Sentence

Noun He bent the twig into an arc. The ball floated in a high arc. Verb The arrow arced through the air. A light arced across the sky. The island chain arcs from north to south.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Over his last 11 games, since the day the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, Curry is averaging 31.2 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 40% from behind the 3-point arc. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 And then … Next 19 games: 6.7 points, 35.5% shooting, 18 of 61 behind the arc (29.5%). Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
On such a surface, parallel lines arc away from each other rather than staying the same distance apart, and at every point, the surface curves in two opposing directions like a saddle. Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025 England fans were singing 10 German Bombers outside a bar and as a couple of locals walked by a bottle was in the air, arcing above my head and smashing into a shop window. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arc

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English ark, from Anglo-French arc bow, from Latin arcus bow, arch, arc — more at arrow

Adjective

arc sine arc or angle (corresponding to the) sine (of so many degrees)

Abbreviation or noun

advanced reader copy

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1949, in the meaning defined above

Abbreviation Or Noun

2006, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arc was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arc. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

arc

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: something curved
b
: a curved path
2
: a glowing flow of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
3
: a continuous portion of a curved line (as part of the circumference of a circle)

arc

2 of 2 verb
1
: to form an electric arc
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course

Medical Definition

arc

1 of 2 noun
1
: an arched or curved anatomical part, distance, or pathway see reflex arc
2
: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes

ARC

2 of 2 abbreviation
1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross

More from Merriam-Webster on arc

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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