array
Americanverb (used with object)
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arrays,
present (3rd person singular)
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arrayed,
past participle, past
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arraying
present participle
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to place in proper or desired order; marshal.
Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.
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to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out.
She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.
noun
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arrays
plural
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order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.
- Synonyms:
- disposition
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military force, especially a body of troops.
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a large and impressive grouping or organization of things.
He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.
- Synonyms:
- exhibition, exhibit, show
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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.
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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.
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Mathematics, Statistics.
-
an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.
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an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.
-
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Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.
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Radio. antenna array.
noun
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an impressive display or collection
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an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order
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poetic rich clothing; apparel
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maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order
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maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix
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electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar
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law a panel of jurors
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the arming of military forces
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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
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to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal
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law to draw up (a panel of jurors)
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Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
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Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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arraysimple
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arrayssimple
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have arrayedperfect
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has arrayedperfect
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am arrayingprogressive
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are arrayingprogressive
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is arrayingprogressive
-
have been arrayingperfect progressive
-
has been arrayingperfect progressive
Past
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arrayedsimple
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had arrayedperfect
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was arrayingprogressive
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were arrayingprogressive
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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
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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:
As the Babydoll dance took hold of social media, Miller collaborated with an array of stars including actors Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lucy Hale and Julianne Hough, as well as popstar Meghan Trainor.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Moving chronologically from the Neolithic period into the 21st century, “Cats: A History” collates a remarkable array of archaeological, artistic and literary sources to report on various human-feline relationships.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Both Samsung and Google pack dedicated triple-camera setups or ultra-high megapixel sensors into their foldables, whereas Apple makes modest hardware compromises on its camera array to keep the Duo thin and lightweight.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
In the coastal city of Chiclayo, of which he was bishop for eight years, Leo is everywhere, his features stamped on a growing array of merchandise ahead of a planned visit on November 13.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
From a bewildering array of boxes with confident names—Predictor, Fact, Accu-Test—she selected one and pressed it into Mia’s hands.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Converting fields to solar arrays has become an attractive option for farmers who are grappling with restrictions limiting the groundwater they can pump from wells.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
“We are going to be building very large battery arrays in order to store energy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The hardware will prepare the station’s 3B power channel for the future installation of new roll-out solar arrays.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Competitor Robinsons now touts "28 solar-powered malls", while Ayala has arrays atop 13.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Machine shops and arrays of heavy-duty electrical equipment were situated on the ground floor along the curved inner walls, facing the two-story arch of the magnet.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Fortunately, “The Visit” does speak clearly in Tresnjak’s production, beautifully arrayed on scenic designer Alexander Dodge’s inventive simulacrum of the town.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The photographs were almost absurdly theatrical: silver serving pieces and candelabras, the gilt-and-cream grandeur of the White House, and, arrayed beneath it all, mountains of branded fast-food packaging.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
That tower is extraordinary, with its deep-set curved windows arrayed like a supple column of vertebrae.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
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
Modern drawings of ancient cities tend to show them at an imagined apogee, the great monuments all splendidly arrayed together, perfect as architectural models.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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
The daughter of a textile trader, Ms. Shah traces her affinity for abstraction and craft to growing up with stacks of fabrics and swatches arraying her home.
From New York Times ● Mar. 22, 2023
He sits in a corner of the restaurant, arraying three sheep carcasses before him, then slices and organizes the meat into neat piles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 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
He tried to look away from the books, to the guards that were arraying themselves around the pyre.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
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