run the gamut

Cultural  

1. To cover a whole range: “The students' reactions to the novel ran the gamut from delight to loathing.”

---

run the gamut Idioms  

1. Extend over an entire range, as in His music runs the gamut from rock to classical. This expression alludes to the medieval musical scale of Guido d'Arezzo, gamut being a contraction of gamma and ut, the lowest and highest notes respectively. [Mid-1800s]

---

Example Sentences

They run the gamut from high-level careers in AI strategy to hourly work, in industries including finance, healthcare and manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Discount categories run the gamut and typically include mattresses and home appliances.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

These couples' reasons run the gamut from high child-rearing costs to career concerns.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

"Basically you're deciding: 'Well look, I'm going to just run the gamut here and hope that these things don't go on fire.'"

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Tossed from pillar to post, dominated once by the strong, evil mind of Balcom, Zita had run the gamut of human emotions before she had barely passed her girlhood.

From The Master Mystery by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)