arrange
Americanverb (used with object)
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arranges,
present (3rd person singular)
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arranged,
past participle, past
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arranging
present participle
-
to place in proper, desired, or convenient order; adjust properly.
to arrange books on a shelf.
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to come to an agreement or understanding regarding.
The two sides arranged the sale of the property.
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to prepare or plan.
to arrange the details of a meeting.
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Music. to adapt (a composition) for a particular style of performance by voices or instruments.
verb (used without object)
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arranges,
present (3rd person singular)
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arranged,
past participle, past
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arranging
present participle
-
to make plans or preparations.
They arranged for a conference on Wednesday.
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to make a settlement; come to an agreement.
to arrange with the coal company for regular deliveries.
verb
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(tr) to put into a proper, systematic, or decorative order
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(tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to arrive at an agreement or understanding about; settle
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to make plans or preparations in advance (for something)
we arranged for her to be met
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(tr) to adapt (a musical composition) for performance in a different way, esp on different instruments
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(tr) to adapt (a play, etc) for broadcasting
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to come to an agreement
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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arrangernoun
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overarrangeverb
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rearrangeverb
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arrangeableadjective
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rearrangeableadjective
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unarrangedadjective
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well-arrangedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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arrangesimple
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arrangessimple
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have arrangedperfect
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has arrangedperfect
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am arrangingprogressive
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are arrangingprogressive
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is arrangingprogressive
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have been arrangingperfect progressive
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has been arrangingperfect progressive
Past
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arrangedsimple
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had arrangedperfect
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was arrangingprogressive
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were arrangingprogressive
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had been arrangingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of arrange
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English arayngen, from Middle French arangier; equivalent to a- 5 + range
Explanation
Think it might be fun to be a party planner? These highly organized people arrange everything from invitations to music, food, even the lighting in the room, meaning they put everything in order. At a concert, you look in your program to see what piece is next. There's a title, followed by the composer's name. Under that is another name, preceded by "arranged by." What does that mean? Every piece was originally written with a certain instrument or instruments in mind. In order for that music to be played by other instruments, it first has to be adapted, meaning someone has to arrange it. A symphony for kazoos? You can arrange that.
Vocabulary lists containing arrange
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In early January 2025, Dans and American Daybreak helped arrange a visit by Donald Trump Jr. and late conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the Arctic island.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
My question is: How would I best arrange the logistics with each restaurant, and what would be the most reliable way to handle payment?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
In June housing minister Matthew Pennycook directed inspectors to halt the report's publication to consider Historic England's suggestion and to arrange further hearings to scrutinise the impacts on the Tower of London.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
She had to find a uniform for her six-year-old daughter, arrange food for her, and prepare for the now-routine blackouts.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
We would arrange rocks in a circle to make a hut.
From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola
His patch is on top of an empty water tank, where he spreads out a sheet and arranges two pillows.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
She arranges four painted notebook covers together on her lap, forming a collage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
The fishing: The resort arranges guided fly-fishing excursions through local outfitter Trout Stalkers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
From there, a cook either proceeds with furious off-the-cuff improvisation or arranges their mise en place and serenely moves through each step as instructed or based on their knowledge.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
She arranges all of her stuffed animals around us in a circle, everyone facing the TV, then presses PLAY.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Those tiny changes in Phobos' movement could ultimately reveal how material is arranged inside the Moon.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
It’s worth adding that Buffett has arranged for his estate to be invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund after he has gone.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
It was the world premiere of the medley, which was arranged by Stuart Calvert, and also featured traditional songs like The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The messages indicate that Mr. Vorcaro arranged luxury accommodations and VIP treatment for de Moraes family members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
They filled nine rows of black metal cabinets arranged like the aisles of a grocery store.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
She ran a couple of design-related errands like arranging flowers, and then Epstein used an account associated with the company to move money and make transactions without her knowledge, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Players are allowed to have endorsement and business deals, but at issue was whether the Clippers participated in arranging the side deal beyond simply introducing Aspiration executives to Leonard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
She's started arranging a regular meetup called Soft Sunday, where people come together for curated wellness experiences.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Aspiring parents know the first IVF cycle can run over $15,000, and arranging a private adoption will far exceed that amount.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
He was arranging his blackboard against a tree stump on the first day of classes when a woman, some relative of Special Julius’s, brought her daughter.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
