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

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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

Examples of range in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Consider online shopping for convenience and for access to a wider range of options, including special offers! Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 They're known for their creamy texture and balanced flavor, appealing to a wide range of taste preferences. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
To that end, the company is a one-stop shop—from selection (its five models start at $274,000 and range from 420 to 800 sq. ft.) to permitting and financing (at roughly a first-mortgage equivalent). Ashley Mateo, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024 The price of a ticket ranged from $10,000-$100,000. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for range 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'range.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near range

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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