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:
I wanted the toast, the cocktail, the sunglasses and, presumably, whatever version of myself knew how to arrange all three so casually.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
"One approach is to set the building back from the street and... to arrange greenery so that, at eye level, its presence doesn't feel so overwhelming," Jouzuka told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Otherwise, the two nations have tacitly agreed not to arrange friendly matches against each other.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
A debt-load problem means your balances are so large relative to your monthly income that the gap can’t be closed — no matter how you arrange your budget or spending.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Emma microwaves the pasta while I arrange veggies on paper plates.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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
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
Finley’s piece arranges ceramic vessels inside shadow-box shelving that the artist describes as containers for memory — some “you love to take out and peek into,” others that “should just stay shut forever.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
Mr. Pomodoro is especially bendy as he pulls his long legs and arms from the car and arranges his face in various forms of eagerness and perplexity and fumblingness.
From "The Unfinished Angel" by Sharon Creech
Rather than people, his focus is on shells and other sea detritus, which he arranged in discarded crates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Intermetallics are solid materials made from two or more metallic elements arranged in a highly ordered crystal structure.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
The minister said a meeting had been arranged with the police to "discuss the issues encountered in this case".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Le Figaro said that reality had arranged itself into "an allegory."
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
She did her charts and cleaned the hut; dusted, shook, and swept; got new palm fronds to make Alex’s bed; arranged sea shells around the coconut pearl and her mother’s picture.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
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
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
So she took solace in doing the little things, like arranging the locker room chairs beforegames.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
The second: Why are you asking me to bet against bonds your own firm is creating, and arranging for the rating agencies to mis-rate?
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
