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View synonyms for extent

extent

[ ik-stent ]

noun

  1. 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.

    Synonyms: length, reach, stretch, expanse, range, compass, amount, measure, magnitude

  2. something extended, as a space; a particular length, area, or volume; something having extension:

    the limitless extent of the skies.

  3. 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.
  4. English Law.
    1. 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.
    2. a seizure made under such a writ.
  5. Archaic. assessment or valuation, as of land.


extent

/ ɪkˈstɛnt /

noun

  1. the range over which something extends; scope

    the extent of the damage

  2. an area or volume

    a vast extent of concrete

  3. law a writ authorizing a person to whom a debt is due to assume temporary possession of his debtor's lands
  4. logic another word for extension
“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
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Other Words From

  • preex·tent noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of extent1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extente “assessment,” from Medieval Latin extenta, noun use of feminine of Latin extentus “stretched out,” past participle of extendere “to stretch out”; extend
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Word History and Origins

Origin of extent1

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

see to some degree (extent) .
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Example Sentences

The extent of the negative effects surprised the researchers.

When things aren’t exploding in choreographed hand-to-hand combat or noisy firefights, there is much discussion of feelings and relationships, to the extent that double lives allow.

To evaluate evolutionary trends, the researchers applied phylogenetic comparative methods to assess phenotypic and lineage diversification, while disparity analyses quantified the extent of morphological variation across anglerfish clades and habitats.

These studies show the extent of Otago's scientific collaborations around the world with co-authors of these papers coming from Germany, France, Spain, Poland and the USA.

I’m willing to humiliate myself quite often to some extent, because the artists that I’ve admired growing up, they’re not easy people usually.

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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

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.

 

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.

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.

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