English Reference

Word

ranged

US/ˈɹeɪndʒd/

UK/ɹˈeɪndʒd/

Definitions

01varied between limits

B2

v. to vary between two different amounts, sizes, or types.

v. to vary or extend between specified limits or points. Often used with 'from... to...'.

“The prices for the hotel rooms ranged from fifty to two hundred dollars.”

“The participants' responses ranged from enthusiastic support to outright hostility, reflecting the deep divisions within the local community regarding the new development.”

Usage

Usually followed by the prepositions 'from' and 'to'.

02moved over an area

C1

v. moved or travelled through a large area.

v. moved or travelled over a wide area, often in search of something. Intransitive in this sense.

“The wild horses ranged across the open plains for miles.”

“During the summer months, the cattle ranged freely across the highland pastures before being gathered for the winter market.”

Literary

Antonyms

03working from a distance

B2

adj. describes a weapon or attack that can hit something from far away.

adj. relating to weapons or combat abilities designed to be used from a distance rather than in close contact.

“The archers provided ranged support while the soldiers moved forward.”

“Modern military strategy relies heavily on ranged weaponry to neutralise threats before ground troops enter the combat zone.”

Teaching tip

This is very common in gaming and military contexts to distinguish from 'melee' or hand-to-hand combat.

Synonyms

long-distanceballistic

Antonyms

meleeclose-quarters

Real-World Examples

“Ages ranged from 14-74 for males and 17-82 for females.”
ScienceDaily · 15 Aug 2026
“It ranged from reading text messages, game chats and emails to reading printed books, manga and fan fiction.”
The Conversation · 4 Aug 2026
“These ranged from their separate fonts for holy water to the long spoon on which a priest would offer them the eucharist so that he could avoid getting too close to them.”
JSTOR Daily · 13 May 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/ranged

English Reference