arrange
Americanverb (used with object)
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arranges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
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 council has been working to arrange alternative housing for affected residents while the hotel undergoes assessments and any required works to make it safe.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
In early January 2025, Dans and American Daybreak helped arrange a visit by Donald Trump Jr. and late conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the Arctic island.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
So I arrange for a satellite phone, the kind used by Navy SEALs and spies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
I would arrange everything privately, in coordination only with the management and staff of each restaurant.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
I’m on high alert, trying to arrange the pieces of this puzzle together, but I can’t get them to fit.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The chip maker last week also took a stake in Cloverleaf Infrastructure, which arranges power for data centers, and struck a $6 billion deal with startup Poolside aimed at developing a powerful open-weight AI model.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
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
Padre Leo takes down the migrants’ information, then gives them a meal card or arranges to pick up money wired by relatives in the United States.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
The league said the club arranged sham commercial deals from 2009 to the 2017-18 season to artificially inflate revenues by over 900 million GBP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Ticketmaster has advised Oasis fans, external not to drive, and has arranged return coaches from 124 locations across England and Wales.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
On the roof, Waddy checks on hundreds of condensers arranged in neat rows to help cool the facility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
The organism, Spirostomum ambiguum, relies on calcium ions and a specialized protein network arranged like a fishnet.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
When Maggie had realized that the Kanes were keeping her letters away from Elisha, she had packed up and arranged passage to go to him.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
He is also arranging a presentation at the Chicago Cultural Center in September.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The two men have no knowledge of Epstein arranging her marriage or anyone else using the cards in her name, the statement said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Clarion apologised to Luke and said it was complying with the ombudsman's orders, including paying him £1,150 in compensation and arranging a further inspection of his home.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
More detailed data, including vehicle registrations, came from people booking car-park spaces, arranging access to lounges, and booking fast-track.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
“Yes, we are. I am Violet Baudelaire, and this is my brother Klaus and my sister Sunny. And this is Mr. Poe, who has been arranging things for us since the death of our parents.”
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
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.
