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
Levy offered to arrange and pay for Uber and Lyft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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
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
I take one and blow my nose, buy a few seconds to arrange my thoughts.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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
Nomadic arranges everything an airline would normally take care of and then some—making sure the jet gets fueled, planning flight routes, even arranging hotels for crew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
If a person arranges an installment plan, Bandebo noted that’s not reflected as a delinquent payment.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 25, 2026
Police are woefully understaffed and hampered by public policy, said Blair Besten, president of downtown’s Historic Core Business Improvement District, a nonprofit that arranges graffiti removal, trash pickup and safety patrols in the area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026
Mia arranges crackers and cheese on a tray.
From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson
Here, lightly edited for space and clarity, are a selection of those comments, arranged by the decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
The qubits were arranged in square, cubic, or diamond shaped lattices.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Davis said the train that picked up stranded passengers ended in downtown Riverside, and Metrolink arranged for bus and Uber rides for people to get to their final destinations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the U.S. had arranged to replace the 172 million barrels of SPR oil with about 200 million barrels within the next year, which is 20% more than the drawdown.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
“How was it?” asked New York Times reporter James Reston, who’d arranged to interview Kennedy after the meeting.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
They also pointed out that patients who are unmarried or have limited social support may face greater difficulties arranging transportation and attending repeated appointments.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026
So she took solace in doing the little things, like arranging the locker room chairs beforegames.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
We are arranging a swap of 50 stickers for my son's 2026 Panini World Cup album.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
While most people have been finishing work and sitting back to enjoy the group stages of the tournament, I am spending hours verifying our needs and arranging trades.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
He began arranging the rotting fruit in his wagon.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
