range 1 of 2

1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
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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6
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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7
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

range

2 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of range
Noun
The Oilers let both walk in exchange for the draft compensation that comes with losing a restricted free agent in specific salary ranges. Peter Baugh, New York Times, 20 June 2025 To be launched in September, the range will be initially distributed at Jacob Cohën’s stores, but Roda is eyeing partnerships with luxury hotels for the near future. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
Verb
Entries for the 2025 Awards are now open across all 29 competitive categories, ranging from lighting and multicamera through to costume design and the production management Award. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 20 June 2025 The first heat wave of the summer will include heat indexes ranging from 105 to 110 degrees across Arkansas this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in North Little Rock. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for range
Recent Examples of Synonyms for range
Noun
  • An original barn from 1908 is accompanied by a more modern 5,000-square-foot steel barn, along with pastures and a riding arena.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
  • Through the porthole, Junior watches the apple trees drop away into seamless white horse pasture, the top rung of the fence riding above the snow alongside the road, bobbing and snaking with an unevenness accentuated by the flatness of the snow, his father talking still.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • Fire Management Assistance Declarations usually do not provide or authorize the same scope of direct federal assistance to wildfire victims as Major Disaster Declarations.
    Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Related Articles The idea stemmed from Chanel searching for a solution for end-of-life disposal of its products, and soon extended to widening the scope of brands.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • On the other end of the spectrum, the spring’s new shows needing some help were Boop!
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 June 2025
  • On the other end of the spectrum, Liquid Web's high-end option (starting at $154 per month) ups the ante by including 32GB of RAM and 960GB of SSD storage.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • In the meantime, the operator said it’s making progress on its remediation plan, including analysis of other areas and additional in-line inspections.
    Joe Sutton, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023
  • The goal of this relationship is to save you time, trouble, and money down the line.
    Brady Slack, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • His uncle has the natural ability to put a pot of something on the stove, throw several spices in with his eyes closed, and serve the family an incredible dinner.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
  • The smell of something simmering on the stove—garlic, ginger, soy, or even the aroma of roasted chicken or vegetables.
    Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • There’s now new fishing regulations, shifts in target species, the rise of more species-specific gear and even changing social attitudes which have all contributed to fishers spending less time in angelshark habitats.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Volunteer in a California state park or join the local chapter of California Native Plant Society project to eradicate invasive plants and preserve native habitats.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 June 2025
  • One half of respondents say price increases have caused financial hardships for them or their household, with 16% classifying it as serious hardship.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • In the Basque region of Spain, Rosenthal roams through the culinary capital of San Sebastián, devouring pintxos, impressive seafood and Txakoli wine.
    Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Some inmates roamed freely, refused to follow staff orders and extorted fellow prisoners.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.

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