- extent
- /Ik'stent/ noun
1 (singular) the limit or degree of something's influence etc: The success of a marriage depends on the extent to which you are prepared to work at it. | to a certain extent/to some extent (=used to say that something is partly, but not completely, true): To acertain extent it was my fault that we lost the contract. | to a great/large extent (=used to say that something is mainly true): These policies are to a large extent responsible for the region's economic decline. | to a lesser/greater extent (=used when comparing two things to say that one thing has less or more influence): These changes will affect all managers and to a lesser extent some shop-floor workers. | to such an extent/to the extent that (=used to say that something has affected or influenced something so much that it causes something else to happen): Violence increased to the extent that residents were afraid to leave their homes. | to what extent...? (=used to ask how big an amount or influence is): To what extent can we blame the government for this lack of information?2 (U) the size of a large area: full extent of: From the top window we could see the full extent of the park. | in extent: The region is over 10,000 square kilometres in extent.3 (U) the size or degree of something dangerous or difficult, such as an injury or a problem: Considering the extent of his injuries he's lucky to be alive. | It would be foolish to underestimate the extent of the problem.
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.