arrange
Americanverb (used with object)
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arranges,
present (3rd person singular)
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arranged,
past participle, past
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arranging
present participle
-
to place in proper, desired, or convenient order; adjust properly.
to arrange books on a shelf.
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to come to an agreement or understanding regarding.
The two sides arranged the sale of the property.
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to prepare or plan.
to arrange the details of a meeting.
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Music. to adapt (a composition) for a particular style of performance by voices or instruments.
verb (used without object)
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arranges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
arranged,
past participle, past
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arranging
present participle
-
to make plans or preparations.
They arranged for a conference on Wednesday.
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to make a settlement; come to an agreement.
to arrange with the coal company for regular deliveries.
verb
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(tr) to put into a proper, systematic, or decorative order
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(tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to arrive at an agreement or understanding about; settle
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to make plans or preparations in advance (for something)
we arranged for her to be met
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(tr) to adapt (a musical composition) for performance in a different way, esp on different instruments
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(tr) to adapt (a play, etc) for broadcasting
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to come to an agreement
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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arrangernoun
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overarrangeverb
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rearrangeverb
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arrangeableadjective
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rearrangeableadjective
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unarrangedadjective
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well-arrangedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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arrangesimple
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arrangessimple
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have arrangedperfect
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has arrangedperfect
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am arrangingprogressive
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are arrangingprogressive
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is arrangingprogressive
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have been arrangingperfect progressive
-
has been arrangingperfect progressive
Past
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arrangedsimple
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had arrangedperfect
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was arrangingprogressive
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were arrangingprogressive
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had been arrangingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of arrange
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English arayngen, from Middle French arangier; equivalent to a- 5 + range
Explanation
Think it might be fun to be a party planner? These highly organized people arrange everything from invitations to music, food, even the lighting in the room, meaning they put everything in order. At a concert, you look in your program to see what piece is next. There's a title, followed by the composer's name. Under that is another name, preceded by "arranged by." What does that mean? Every piece was originally written with a certain instrument or instruments in mind. In order for that music to be played by other instruments, it first has to be adapted, meaning someone has to arrange it. A symphony for kazoos? You can arrange that.
Vocabulary lists containing arrange
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The sales were conducted on Monday via a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which is a program that allows corporate insiders to arrange for preset sales based on certain conditions.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
It also helps arrange travel by purchasing seats on commercial flights and reselling them, and in some cases has chartered aircraft.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Separately, Oracle is in talks with Apollo and Goldman Sachs to arrange money for a big purchase of chips, people familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
When his Detroit Tigers opened last season at Dodger Stadium, Skubal asked teammate Jack Flaherty to arrange a meeting with Clayton Kershaw.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
“I’ll pick you up and take you there and back the first day, but after that your aunt and uncle will have to arrange your transportation.”
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
His patch is on top of an empty water tank, where he spreads out a sheet and arranges two pillows.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Citizen detectives like Diarra Brickland, who arranges her messy life around ensuring that the people and prizes typically overlooked or quietly erased by the mainstream keep being seen, are even less common.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
She arranges four painted notebook covers together on her lap, forming a collage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
India’s firm arranges travel and other experiences for dozens of members—most of them in private equity—with net worths ranging from tens of millions to billions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Theo hesitates a split second while considering my question, before his face arranges itself back into his familiar grin.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
The Period-Piece Pixie, as depicted on-screen, is too evolved for the elaborate grooming rituals of her time—no stays, no time-consumingly arranged ringlets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Nathan Hochman said last week there is no evidence the firm ever arranged a surrogacy that didn’t involve Xuan and Zhang.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
The emergence of extraordinary traits may depend not only on which genes an organism inherits, but also on how those genes are physically arranged and connected within the cell.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
On Sept. 29, it arranged $30 billion in credit facilities, replacing a $5 billion revolving credit line, which works much like a corporate credit card.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Between public sittings, Leah arranged private séances, social invitations, and whatever rest time they could fit in.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Rather than arranging atoms only in a line, they hope to study grids of atoms as well.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
At the same time, in the same treatment room, another nurse was arranging insulin mixed with saline in a 50ml syringe for the diabetic patient.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
He is also arranging a presentation at the Chicago Cultural Center in September.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Mark Clews, who lives near Callington, said he had delayed filling his tank this summer while arranging a replacement.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
They scrambled toward Frank’s position, pushing and hacking monsters out of their way until they stood shoulder to shoulder with the comrades, arranging themselves in a square formation.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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