arrange
Americanverb (used with object)
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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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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
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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:
When flames reached the village of Robledo de Chavela, Rosa, 56, refused to leave at first because she wanted to arrange for carers to rescue the feral cats that she keeps.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
Cut one sheet of puff pastry into four rectangles and arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Or it might refer you to an independent adviser that can help arrange the transfer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Even if you are his legal next of kin, it does not obligate you to administer his estate or arrange the funeral.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
“Man, oh man,” he says as I arrange him on the cot.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Neill plays the awkward, ignorant Scottish farmer who arranges for a mail-order marriage with Holly Hunter’s mute pianist and then becomes possessive and driven to jealous despair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
From there, a cook either proceeds with furious off-the-cuff improvisation or arranges their mise en place and serenely moves through each step as instructed or based on their knowledge.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 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
If a person arranges an installment plan, Bandebo noted that’s not reflected as a delinquent payment.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 25, 2026
Cinna comes up behind me and arranges a shimmering silver wrap around my shoulders.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Many pupils and parents queued to talk to us at two town hall meetings we arranged.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Local television producers caught wind and arranged a live audition at the Pine Tavern.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Between them, they arranged six atoms, including a dioxygen molecule, that connected the two neodymium atoms.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Le Figaro said that reality had arranged itself into "an allegory."
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
And now opportunity was the word the social worker was using when he informed the boy that he had arranged for him to spend the summer volunteering at Shady Glen Retirement Home.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Aspiring parents know the first IVF cycle can run over $15,000, and arranging a private adoption will far exceed that amount.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
By carefully arranging materials with different shapes and refractive indexes, scientists can block, guide, or strengthen selected wavelengths of light.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
The council said it was carrying out regular visual monitoring of the lake and arranging toxin testing, adding that warning signs will remain in place until the required safety criteria under the protocol is met.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
To promote it, the company is enlisting more than 200 creators, from professional influencers to niche fans of pottery, crafts or flower arranging.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
The flower-women were coming up from the market and arranging their daily stock.
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
