extent

[ ik-stent ]

noun

1. the space or degree to which a thing extends; length, area, volume, or scope:

   the extent of his lands; to be right to a certain extent.

   Synonyms: length, reach, stretch, expanse, range, compass, amount, measure, magnitude

2. something extended, as a space; a particular length, area, or volume; something having extension:

   the limitless extent of the skies.

3. U.S. Law. a writ, or a levy, by which a debtor's lands are valued and transferred to the creditor, absolutely or for a term of years.
4. English Law.
   1. Also called writ of extent. a writ to recover debts of a record due to the crown, under which land, property, etc., may be seized.
   2. a seizure made under such a writ.
5. Logic. extension ( def 12 ).
6. Archaic. assessment or valuation, as of land.

extent

/ ɪkˈstɛnt /

noun

1. the range over which something extends; scope

   the extent of the damage

2. an area or volume

   a vast extent of concrete

3. law a writ authorizing a person to whom a debt is due to assume temporary possession of his debtor's lands
4. logic another word for extension

Other Words From

• preex·tent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of extent¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extente “assessment,” from Medieval Latin extenta, noun use of feminine of Latin extentus “stretched out,” past participle of extendere “to stretch out”; extend

Word History and Origins

Origin of extent¹

C14: from Old French extente, from Latin extentus extensive, from extendere to extend

Idioms and Phrases

see to some degree (extent) .

Example Sentences

My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.

From The Daily Beast

And, as Gow adds wryly from his own personal experience, “To a huge extent they achieved that aim very well.”

From The Daily Beast

That was the extent of it during the peak of the flames, and the numbers that swooshed around in the press the next day.

From The Daily Beast

I did not think that it would go to the extent it did, but our office was not shocked.

From The Daily Beast

To what extent was the testimony the grand jury heard corroborated or contradicted by forensic evidence?

From The Daily Beast

But what a magnificent plain is this we are entering upon: it is of immense extent.

From Project Gutenberg

Adequate conception of the extent, the variety, the excellence of the works of Art here heaped together is impossible.

From Project Gutenberg

Tobacco is a strong growing plant resisting heat and drought to a far (p. 018) greater extent than most plants.

From Project Gutenberg

M'Bongo and his whole court are now clothed, I am happy to say, at least to a certain extent.

From Project Gutenberg

And it is too true that ages of subjugation have demoralized, to a fearful extent, the Italian People.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amount
• breadth
• degree
• duration
• expansion
• intensity
• length
• matter
• measure
• quantity
• scope
• size
• term