array

American  

[uh-ray] / əˈreɪ /

verb (used with object)

• arrays,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arrayed,
  past participle,  past
• arraying
  present participle

1. 

   to place in proper or desired order; marshal.

   Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.

   Synonyms:

   dispose, order, range, arrange

2. to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out.

   She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.

   Synonyms:

   decorate, adorn, ornament, attire, dress, apparel

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noun

• arrays
  plural

1. order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.

   Synonyms:

   disposition

2. military force, especially a body of troops.

3. a large and impressive grouping or organization of things.

   He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.

   Synonyms:

   exhibition, exhibit, show

4. regular order or arrangement; series.

   an array of figures.

5. a large group, number, or quantity of people or things.

   an impressive array of scholars; an imposing array of books.

6. attire; dress.

   in fine array.

   Synonyms:

   raiment

7. an arrangement of interrelated objects or items of equipment for accomplishing a particular task.

   thousands of solar cells in one vast array.

8. Mathematics, Statistics.

   1. an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.

   2. an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.

9. Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.

10. Radio. antenna array.

array British  

/ əˈreɪ /

noun

1. an impressive display or collection

2. an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order

3. poetic rich clothing; apparel

4. maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order

5. maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix

6. electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar

7. law a panel of jurors

8. the arming of military forces

9. computing a regular data structure in which individual elements may be located by reference to one or more integer index variables, the number of such indices being the number of dimensions in the array

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verb

1. to dress in rich attire; adorn

2. to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal

3. law to draw up (a panel of jurors)

array Scientific  

/ ə-rā′ /

1. Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.

2. Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• arrayal
  noun
• arrayer
  noun
• unarrayed
  adjective
• well-arrayed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• arrays
  plural

Participles

• arraying
  present
• arrayed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• array
  simple
• arrays
  simple
• have arrayed
  perfect
• has arrayed
  perfect
• am arraying
  progressive
• are arraying
  progressive
• is arraying
  progressive
• have been arraying
  perfect progressive
• has been arraying
  perfect progressive

Past

• arrayed
  simple
• had arrayed
  perfect
• was arraying
  progressive
• were arraying
  progressive
• had been arraying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will array
  simple
• will have arrayed
  perfect
• will be arraying
  progressive
• will have been arraying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of array

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-French arayer, Old French are(y)er, from Germanic; compare Old English ārǣdan “to prepare,” equivalent to ā- a- ³ + ræde “prompt”

Explanation

An array is a display of something — usually something varied. You might encounter an array of cereal brands in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Your head says to choose the Crunchy Oats 'n' Bran, but your heart wants the Sugar-Coated Chocopuffs. Although the word array comes from the Old French areyer, "to put in order," an array often just comes together. It can be an intentional design of people or features — everything from software packages to fashion shows can have an "impressive array" of components. Or, an array can fall together in nature or by chance: "the clouds became an array of beautiful shapes after the storm."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

array arrays arrayed arraying

A related neutral atom platform in the lab recently reached a major milestone by trapping 6,100 atoms in a single array.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

The launch of the new US government platform comes the same day that Trump is to meet with an array of top tech executives to discuss the AI sector's rapid development.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

Though it may no longer be to Kris’ tastes, the home in question offers an array of top-of-the-line amenities and decor features, starting with the oh-so-iconic entryway, which the listing describes as a “soaring foyer.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Long before Oz entered politics, for example, he’d been discredited for dispensing a vast array of scientifically unsound medical advice on “The Dr. Oz Show,” which Winfrey’s Harpo Productions co-produced.

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

There was Mr. Major, the plumber; Miss Austine, the hairdresser; Miss Brooks, the nurse; Mr. Elders, the dentist; and a whole array of kind working folks.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals

Converting fields to solar arrays has become an attractive option for farmers who are grappling with restrictions limiting the groundwater they can pump from wells.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

All lithium-ion batteries can catch fire—a process called “thermal runaway” that can affect battery packs on planes, in electric vehicles, or in grid storage-scale arrays.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Competitor Robinsons now touts "28 solar-powered malls", while Ayala has arrays atop 13.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Researchers used airgun arrays to produce controlled seismic pulses and placed seismometers on the ocean floor to record how those waves traveled through the rock.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

A dull, red light shone on the faces of the workers as they watched their own arrays of little glass dishes.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

After surveying his pyramids of cans, arrayed spices and stacks of noodle soup, they issued him a 2,500-euro fine, equivalent to around $2,866.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

He failed at that, in part because conditions were arrayed against him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025

Plates of half-eaten pancit, a Filipino noodle dish, were arrayed across tables.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025

Collectively, they form the largest US presence arrayed in and around Latin America in decades.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2025

The square was dominated by a white marble statue of a headless man in impossibly ornate armor, astride a warhorse similarly arrayed.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

In arraying himself against adversaries no matter the cost, he has earned an appellation Robert Bolt gave Sir Thomas More: a man for all seasons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Shirtless, he struts like a rooster in a hen house, arraying himself on the lounge as though it were his personal yoga mat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2023

But now I presume he will, if only because he’ll want to regain control of the government forces that are fast arraying against him.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 13, 2022

By arraying spike proteins on nanoparticles, vaccine developers aim to follow the style of upscale restaurants, where presentation matters nearly as much as the food on the plate.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 15, 2021

It was a trial to my feelings, on the next day but one, to see Joe arraying himself in his Sunday clothes to accompany me to Miss Havisham’s.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• batch
• bunch
• bundle
• cluster
• design
• display
• host
• lineup
• lot
• multitude
• pattern
• supply