extent

[ ik-stent ]

/ ɪkˈstɛnt /

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noun

the space or degree to which a thing extends; length, area, volume, or scope: the extent of his lands; to be right to a certain extent.

something extended, as a space; a particular length, area, or volume; something having extension: the limitless extent of the skies.

U.S. Law. a writ, or a levy, by which a debtor's lands are valued and transferred to the creditor, absolutely or for a term of years.

English Law.

Also called writ of extent. a writ to recover debts of a record due to the crown, under which land, property, etc., may be seized.
a seizure made under such a writ.

Logic. extension (def. 12).

Archaic. assessment or valuation, as of land.

OTHER WORDS FOR extent

1 magnitude, measure, amount, compass, range, expanse, stretch, reach, length.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of extent

1250–1300; Middle English extente assessment <Medieval Latin extenta, noun use of feminine of Latin extentus, past participle of extendere to extend

OTHER WORDS FROM extent

pre·ex·tent, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH extent

extant, extent

Words nearby extent

extensity, extensive, extensively, extensometer, extensor, extent, extenuate, extenuating, extenuating circumstance, extenuating circumstances, extenuation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT EXTENT

What is extent?

Extent is the length, area, volume, or scope something reaches to, as in The extent of Sheree’s knowledge of science fiction was very deep.

Extent is a very common term that can refer to measurements, concepts, ideals, plans, and many other fields that measure anything, literal or figurative.

Extent can also refer to something that has a lengthening, stretching out, or enlarging scope, especially when the boundaries aren’t known. You might hear someone talk about the limitless extent of space, for example.

The phrase the extent of means that something has reached the extreme or the border of how far it can go, as in I can raise your allowance by $5, but that’s the extent of what I can do.

Example: We know that the pan can get hot, but we are unsure to what extent.

Where does extent come from?

The first records of the term extent come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Latin extendere, meaning “to extend.”

Extent has specific meanings in the law. In the United States, an extent is a formal order, or writ, that allows a creditor to take over a debtor’s lands, either temporarily or permanently, when the debtor can’t pay the debt.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to extent?

preextent (noun)

What are some synonyms for extent?

What are some words that share a root or word element with extent?

extend

What are some words that often get used in discussing extent?

What are some words extent may be commonly confused with?

How is extent used in real life?

Extent is almost always used in discussions about measurement, even when dealing with debt.

The WHO warned Monday that global risks posed by the Omicron variant were "very high," though the extent of the threat is unknown. Officials urged countries to step up surveillance, testing and vaccinations in response to the new variant. https://t.co/5wmYP35Q86

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 29, 2021

i want to live in a culture where the amount of power someone has is directly proportional to the extent they're able to be empathetic

— 🔴Live ttv/tytyoakley | (@tyleroakley) December 20, 2016

Never doubt the extent of your impact

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) November 28, 2017

Try using extent!

Is extent used correctly in the following sentence?

Caleb didn’t study to a great extent for the final exam, but he managed to pass it anyway.

How to use extent in a sentence

He said more analysis is needed to determine the extent that excessive speeding contributed to the increase in speed-related crashes, but last year’s data shows a troubling trend.
Traffic counts fell during the coronavirus pandemic, but road fatalities still increased|Luz Lazo|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
In the ocean, organisms accumulate these pieces in their bodies over their lifetimes, sometimes to harmful or lethal extents, and in turn microplastic also shows up in the seafood we eat.
Microplastics are everywhere. Here’s what that means for our health.|Ula Chrobak|February 11, 2021|Popular-Science
Most students probably will not see the changes until the fall, when the university has said it expects to reopen “to the fullest extent possible.”
George Washington University commits to single-use-plastic ban|Lauren Lumpkin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Both sides are to a certain extent under the illusion if you got rid of Section 230, that would magically fix all of their problems.
Twenty-Six Words Created the Internet. What Will It Take to Save It?|Stephen Engelberg|February 9, 2021|ProPublica

“We as a state must be able to assure, to the greatest extent possible, that we maintain an unbiased, balanced and fair taxation system,” said Brad Witt, a state representative who leads Oregon’s House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“We Have Counties in Deep Trouble”: Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Reverse Timber Tax Cuts That Cost Communities Billions|by Rob Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Tony Schick, Oregon Public Broadcasting|February 5, 2021|ProPublica
My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And, as Gow adds wryly from his own personal experience, “To a huge extent they achieved that aim very well.”
‘Nazi Cows’ Tried to Kill British Farmer|Tom Sykes|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That was the extent of it during the peak of the flames, and the numbers that swooshed around in the press the next day.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I did not think that it would go to the extent it did, but our office was not shocked.
The Baptism of Michael Brown Sr. and Ferguson’s Baptism by Fire|Justin Glawe|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To what extent was the testimony the grand jury heard corroborated or contradicted by forensic evidence?
Ferguson’s Grand Jury Bought Darren Wilson’s Story|Paul Campos|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But what a magnificent plain is this we are entering upon: it is of immense extent.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Adequate conception of the extent, the variety, the excellence of the works of Art here heaped together is impossible.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Tobacco is a strong growing plant resisting heat and drought to a far (p. 018) greater extent than most plants.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
M'Bongo and his whole court are now clothed, I am happy to say, at least to a certain extent.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
And it is too true that ages of subjugation have demoralized, to a fearful extent, the Italian People.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley

British Dictionary definitions for extent

extent

/ (ɪkˈstɛnt) /

noun

the range over which something extends; scopethe extent of the damage

an area or volumea vast extent of concrete

US law a writ authorizing a person to whom a debt is due to assume temporary possession of his debtor's lands

logic another word for extension (def. 11)

Word Origin for extent

C14: from Old French extente, from Latin extentus extensive, from extendere to extend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with extent

extent

see to some degree (extent).

extent

OTHER WORDS FOR extent

Origin of extent

OTHER WORDS FROM extent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH extent

Words nearby extent

MORE ABOUT EXTENT

What is extent?

Where does extent come from?

Did you know … ?

How is extent used in real life?

Try using extent!

Words related to extent

How to use extent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for extent

Word Origin for extent

Other Idioms and Phrases with extent