array

American  

[uh-rey] / əˈreɪ /

verb (used with object)

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

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

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

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

The triumph of science—with government support—over an array of diseases and conditions has been a hallmark of the past 250 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Intel stands to benefit from a CPU boom and a growing array of partnerships, but an analyst notes it’s “not out of the woods yet.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Inflation expectations increased due to the possibility that higher gasoline prices will raise prices for an array of goods.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The massive event is expected to require an array of services, including trash pickup, bus service, street closures, park maintenance, drinking water stations and building inspections of temporary Olympic structures.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

He raised a hand, fingers dancing through the air in a complicated array of signals, and at once the dogs stilled.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

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