ranch

1 of 2

noun

ˈranch 

1

: a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep

2

: a farm or area devoted to a particular specialty

3

: ranch house

ranch

2 of 2

verb

ranched; ranching; ranches

intransitive verb

: to live or work on a ranch

transitive verb

1

: to work as a rancher on

2

: to raise on a ranch

Synonyms

Noun

• estate
• farm
• farmstead
• grange

Examples of ranch in a Sentence

Noun

lives on a cattle ranch in Texas that's as big as the whole state of Rhode Island

Verb

My grandfather started ranching here 150 years ago.

The family has ranched 10,000 acres here for the past 150 years.

The family has been ranching cattle here for 150 years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During a collapse, ranch members would come here to survey for threats. —Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

The reality series about the lives of young staff members working at the Circle Bar Dude ranch in Montana debuted to 130,000 total viewers on Sept. 23, and averaged 160K over three airings —representing just 35% retention of Superman & Lois‘ audience. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

The ranching community knows the land, and ranchers deeply understand the long history and cycles that occur on the land. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024

Missouri — Plato Ranch, $33.5 Million Photo : Getty Images Currently listed for $33.5 million, this 7,200-acre ranch in Plato is primed for starting your ranching legacy. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Mexican Spanish rancho small ranch, from Spanish, camp, hut & Spanish dialect, small farm, from Old Spanish ranchearse to take up quarters, from Middle French se ranger to take up a position, from ranger to set in a row — more at range

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1851, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing ranch

• dude ranch
• raised ranch
• ranch dressing
• ranch house

Kids Definition

ranch

1 of 2 noun

ˈranch 

1

: a place for the raising of livestock (as cattle, horses, or sheep) on range

2

: a farm devoted to a specific crop or kind of animal

a fruit ranch

a mink ranch

3

: ranch house sense 2

ranch

2 of 2 verb

: to live or work on a ranch