often attributive
1
a(1)
: a series of things in a line : row
(2)
: a series of mountains
(3)
: one of the north-south rows of townships in a U.S. public-land survey that are numbered east and west from the principal meridian of the survey
b
: an aggregate of individuals in one order
c
: a direction line
2
: a cooking stove that has an oven and a flat top with burners or heating elements
3
a
: a place that may be ranged over
b
: an open region over which animals (such as livestock) may roam and feed
c
: the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs
4
: the act of ranging about
5
a(1)
: the horizontal distance to which a projectile can be propelled
(2)
: the horizontal distance between a weapon and target
b
: the maximum distance a vehicle or craft can travel without refueling
c(1)
: a place where shooting is practiced
(2)
6
a
: the space or extent included, covered, or used : scope
b
: the extent of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument
7
a
: a sequence, series, or scale between limits
a wide range of patterns
b
: the limits of a series : the distance or extent between possible extremes
c
: the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution
8
a
: the set of values a function may take on
b
: the class of admissible values of a variable
9
ranged; ranging
1
a
: to set in a row or in the proper order
b
: to place among others in a position or situation
c
: to assign to a category : classify
2
a
: to rove over or through
b
: to sail or pass along
3
: to arrange (an anchor cable) on deck
4
: to graze (livestock) on a range
1
a
: to roam at large or freely
b
: to move over an area so as to explore it
2
: to take a position
3
a
: to correspond in direction or line : align
b
: to extend in a particular direction
4
: to have range
5
: to change or differ within limits
6
of an organism
: to live or occur in or be native to a region
Synonyms
Examples of range in a Sentence
Noun
knew exactly how many head of cattle were turned out on the range that morning to graze
didn't know she had such a wide range of knowledge until I talked to her
Verb
The selection of food ranged from mild to very spicy.
Items on the menu range from American fare like hamburgers and hot dogs to Italian pasta dishes.
Grizzly bears range over a much smaller area than they once did.
The plant once ranged across the island.
Recent Examples on the Web
Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Banijay Rights represents a range of ancillary rights for the Black Mirror brand, and its Licensing & Merchandising team struck the deal with Twisted Comics.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
This year, local and state certification deadlines range from two days to more than a month after Nov. 5.
—Rachel Barber, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for range 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Two others show a smaller — though still significant — effect, in the $1,700 to $2,600 range.
—Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Banijay Rights represents a range of ancillary rights for the Black Mirror brand, and its Licensing & Merchandising team struck the deal with Twisted Comics.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
While testing in regions ranging from the Northeast to the Tetons, testers agreed that the LIFA Merino Midweight crew top and bottom provided warmth on lift rides and windy summits but also wicked moisture extremely efficiently.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
This year, local and state certification deadlines range from two days to more than a month after Nov. 5.
—Rachel Barber, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for range
Dictionary Entries Near range
Cite this Entry
“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/range. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
range
1 of 2 noun1
: a series of things in a line
a range of mountains
2
: a cooking stove
3
a
: open land over which livestock may roam and feed
b
: the place where a certain kind of animal or plant naturally lives
4
: the act of ranging about
5
a
: the maximum distance a weapon can shoot, a missile can travel, or a vehicle can go without refueling
b
: the distance between a weapon and its target
c
: a place where shooting is practiced
a rifle range
6
a
: the distance or amount included or gone over : scope
the range of one's knowledge
b
: the extent of pitch covered by a voice or instrument or a melody
7
a
: a sequence, series, or scale between limits
out of our price range
a wide range of colors
b
: the difference between the least and greatest of a set of values
range
2 of 2 verb
ranged; ranging
1
a
: to set in a row or in proper order
b
: to set in place among others of the same kind
2
: to roam freely
3
: to vary within limits
the temperature ranged from 50° to 90°
Medical Definition
range
1 of 2 nounoften attributive
1
: the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs
2
: the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution
range
2 of 2 intransitive verb
ranged; ranging
1
: to change or differ within limits
symptoms range in severity from mild to severe
2
of an organism
: to live or occur in or be native to a region
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