array
Americanverb (used with object)
-
arrays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
arrayed,
past participle, past
-
arraying
present participle
-
to place in proper or desired order; marshal.
Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.
-
to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out.
She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.
noun
-
arrays
plural
-
order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.
- Synonyms:
- disposition
-
military force, especially a body of troops.
-
a large and impressive grouping or organization of things.
He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.
- Synonyms:
- exhibition, exhibit, show
-
regular order or arrangement; series.
an array of figures.
-
a large group, number, or quantity of people or things.
an impressive array of scholars; an imposing array of books.
-
attire; dress.
in fine array.
- Synonyms:
- raiment
-
an arrangement of interrelated objects or items of equipment for accomplishing a particular task.
thousands of solar cells in one vast array.
-
Mathematics, Statistics.
-
an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.
-
an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.
-
-
Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.
-
Radio. antenna array.
noun
-
an impressive display or collection
-
an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order
-
poetic rich clothing; apparel
-
maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order
-
maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix
-
electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar
-
law a panel of jurors
-
the arming of military forces
-
computing a regular data structure in which individual elements may be located by reference to one or more integer index variables, the number of such indices being the number of dimensions in the array
verb
-
to dress in rich attire; adorn
-
to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal
-
law to draw up (a panel of jurors)
-
Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
-
Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
arraysimple
-
arrayssimple
-
have arrayedperfect
-
has arrayedperfect
-
am arrayingprogressive
-
are arrayingprogressive
-
is arrayingprogressive
-
have been arrayingperfect progressive
-
has been arrayingperfect progressive
Past
-
arrayedsimple
-
had arrayedperfect
-
was arrayingprogressive
-
were arrayingprogressive
-
had been arrayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of array
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-French arayer, Old French are(y)er, from Germanic; compare Old English ārǣdan “to prepare,” equivalent to ā- a- 3 + ræde “prompt”
Explanation
An array is a display of something — usually something varied. You might encounter an array of cereal brands in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Your head says to choose the Crunchy Oats 'n' Bran, but your heart wants the Sugar-Coated Chocopuffs. Although the word array comes from the Old French areyer, "to put in order," an array often just comes together. It can be an intentional design of people or features — everything from software packages to fashion shows can have an "impressive array" of components. Or, an array can fall together in nature or by chance: "the clouds became an array of beautiful shapes after the storm."
Vocabulary lists containing array
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: December 9 - 15, 2017
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Bakewell’s donations weren’t the only ones to pose issues for Brotherhood Crusade, which provides an array of services aimed at keeping kids from joining gangs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The broader array of offerings give customers more reasons to consolidate their assets onto Robinhood, the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
This time, Yoane Wissa went on a brilliant run through the centre - evading an array of Liverpool players - and played the ball to Joe Willock, who finished in style.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
France's vast array of local cheeses are a source of national pride and authorities go to great lengths to protect traditional production methods and ensure authenticity.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
When needed, two arms could extend from their sides, and at the end of each arm was an array of tools, including a claw strong enough to tear through steel.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Competitor Robinsons now touts "28 solar-powered malls", while Ayala has arrays atop 13.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Satellites, moored arrays of sensors and research ships are gathering data from the modern ocean too.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Computer simulations showed the structures as swirling arrays of arrows that illustrate how different properties of light change direction across the Poisson spot.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
Line arrays work by suspending multiple speaker cabinets in a curved vertical column, allowing sound engineers to precisely shape the direction and throw of audio across a large space.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The excavation of the Mary Rose yielded one of the largest and most amazing arrays of artifacts ever recovered.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
As Massie frequently notes, the bulk of the outside money arrayed against him has come from three billionaires – Las Vegas casino tycoon Miriam Adleson and hedge fund managers Paul Singer and John Paulson.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
In another drawing in the series, “Reclining Male Nude With Shield and Sword,” a figure, arrayed like an ancient river god, holds himself up while twisting his head around in surprise and dismay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
He failed at that, in part because conditions were arrayed against him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025
The name gujeolpan refers to nine ingredients on a plate, with eight colorful vegetables or proteins sliced thinly and arrayed around the edge of plate, much like a mouth-watering sundial.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025
To our left were the other bridges of Manhattan, arrayed against each other like alternating sin and cos waves, carrying a smattering of late-night trucks whose tops trailed mist.
From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
In arraying himself against adversaries no matter the cost, he has earned an appellation Robert Bolt gave Sir Thomas More: a man for all seasons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
But now I presume he will, if only because he’ll want to regain control of the government forces that are fast arraying against him.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 13, 2022
By arraying spike proteins on nanoparticles, vaccine developers aim to follow the style of upscale restaurants, where presentation matters nearly as much as the food on the plate.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 15, 2021
She poured coffee from a yellow enamel pot and slid onto a stool beside me, curling her bare feet up and arraying gauzy cottons around her.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2017
I admired that from the start, to be able to make such an entrance without blushing and stumbling and arraying the floor with your books and the contents of your pocketbook.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
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.
