Extent ɪkˈstent True Full Problem I Extra Examples

• it is difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.
• she was exaggerating the true extent of the problem.
• they have launched an investigation to determine the extent of police misconduct in this case.
• we don't know the extent of his injuries at this point.

extent

1. how large, important, serious, etc. something is
• It is difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.
• She was exaggerating the true extent of the problem.
• They have launched an investigation to determine the extent of police misconduct in this case.
• We don't know the extent of his injuries at this point.
• I was amazed at the extent of his knowledge.

Extra Examples

• The government sought to play down the extent of the problem.
• The operation revealed the extent of the cancer.
• The overall extent of civilian casualties remained unclear.
• We do not yet know the extent of her injuries.
• a lengthy agenda outlining the extent of global environmental problems
2. the physical size of an area
• You can't see the full extent of the beach from here.
• The island is 300 square kilometres in extent.

Extra Examples

• At its greatest extent the empire comprised most of western France.
• a statement defining the extent of Latvia's territory
3. used to show how far something is true or how great an effect it has
• To a certain extent, we are all responsible for this tragic situation.
• He had changed to such an extent (= so much) that I no longer recognized him.
• To some extent what she argues is true.
• The pollution of the forest has seriously affected plant life and, to a lesser extent, wildlife.
• To what extent is this true of all schools?
• The book discusses the extent to which (= how much) family life has changed over the past 50 years.

Extra Examples

• He had withdrawn from the company of his friends to an alarming extent.
• I will answer your questions about this case to the extent possible.
• People no longer live in small communities to the same extent as they used to.
• The victory underlined the extent to which Prussia had become a major power.
• To an extent East-West distrust continued throughout the war.

Word Origin

• Middle English (in the sense ‘valuation of property, especially for taxation’): from Anglo-Norman French extente, from medieval Latin extenta, feminine past participle of Latin extendere ‘stretch out’, from ex- ‘out’ + tendere ‘stretch’.