array

American  

[uh-rey] / 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

There are fissures between many groups, with a huge array of conflicting issues at stake.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

A standout for decades in a breathtaking array of roles, comedy lead actor nominee Martin Short is the kind of all-around entertainer they don’t make anymore.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The storytelling by producer-director Thomas Patterson, supported by a cast of experts and an array of film clips and newsreels, is intended to be engaging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

If the merger eventually closes, the new combined company would control a vast array of assets, including CNN, Warner Bros.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

She’s crouched down and appears to be helping a freshman sort through an array of scattered papers.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Satellites, moored arrays of sensors and research ships are gathering data from the modern ocean too.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

The state code requires that rooftop solar arrays have rapid shutdown systems that quickly reduce the voltage to a level that makes it safe for first responders to access a roof in an emergency.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

This approach eliminates the need for external optics or complicated detector arrays.

From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026

His opening arrays were different every time, yet all the same—conservative, defensive, passive.

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

The photographs were almost absurdly theatrical: silver serving pieces and candelabras, the gilt-and-cream grandeur of the White House, and, arrayed beneath it all, mountains of branded fast-food packaging.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

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

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

Having so arrayed ourselves, we made our way along the pier, where others of our Regiment and the 14th were clambering up from the river.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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

Whether the photographer is shooting on the street or arraying gray test strips to suggest stripe paintings drained of color, he’s chronicling the passage of time.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2021

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