extent

American  

[ik-stent] / ɪkˈstɛnt /

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.

6. Archaic. assessment or valuation, as of land.

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extent British  

/ 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

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extent Idioms  

1. see to some degree (extent).

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Usage

What is extent? Extent is the length, area, volume, or scope something reaches to, as in The extent of Sheree’s knowledge of science fiction was very deep. Extent is a very common term that can refer to measurements, concepts, ideals, plans, and many other fields that measure anything, literal or figurative. Extent can also refer to something that has a lengthening, stretching out, or enlarging scope, especially when the boundaries aren’t known. You might hear someone talk about the limitless extent of space, for example. The phrase the extent of means that something has reached the extreme or the border of how far it can go, as in I can raise your allowance by $5, but that’s the extent of what I can do. Example: We know that the pan can get hot, but we are unsure to what extent.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preextent
  noun

Etymology

Origin of extent

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”; see extend

Explanation

The extent is the area something covers. That could be physical space or something like being prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Use the word extent when you are discussing how far something extends — how far it reaches. If you're an expert, the extent of your knowledge is wide. If you own a lot of property, the extent of your land is huge. The full extent of something is like the limit — that's the end of it. If you've reached the extent of your patience, you're out of patience. If an earthquake destroyed your house, the extent of the damage was severe.

Example Sentences

The charities behind this survey argue that the aim can't be achieved if ministers don't know the extent of the problem and want the definition of rough sleeping to be amended to reflect women's experiences.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

"Tariffs could still impact trade flows this year, although likely to a lesser extent than in 2025," Zwemmer added.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

That changed in 2025, when China imposed export controls on several rare-earth elements and magnets in response to trade tensions with Washington, exposing the extent of Western dependence on Chinese supply chains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

To the extent you want to own gold, the best advice may be to pick a small but meaningful allocation and stick with it.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

This strategy worked to some extent for a segment of the African American community, particularly those who had access to education and relative privilege.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

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