Standard Lemma guide

rangy

adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɹeɪnd͡ʒi/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪndʒi
  • CMU ARPABET: R EY1 N JH IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Slender and long of limb; lanky.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • For an accountant, Robert had a rangy appearance.
  • Her African violets weren't getting enough sun and became rangy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Prone to roaming around.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • rangy cattle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having or permitting range or scope; roomy; commodious.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Requiring a large vocal range; having a great difference from the highest to the lowest notes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • The Star Spangled Banner has been criticized as too rangy for many people to sing along to comfortably.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

allowing ample room for ranging

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

adapted to wandering or roaming

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

tall and thin and having long slender limbs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a gangling teenager
  • a lanky kid transformed almost overnight into a handsome young man

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gangling, gangly, lanky

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(H)rek-der. Proto-Celtic *reketi Gaulish *rekosbor.? Proto-Indo-European *h3reǵ-der. Proto-Germanic *rinkanąder. Proto-Germanic *rankaz Frankish *rankbor.? Vulgar Latin *rencus Old French reng Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -ier Old French rengierbor. Middle English rengen English range Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English rangy From range + -y.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: строен (stroen) — lanky
  • Bulgarian: дългокрак (dǎlgokrak) — lanky
  • Czech: dlouhonohý — lanky
  • Dutch: slank — lanky
  • Dutch: slungelig — lanky
  • Finnish: hontelo — lanky
  • Korean: 넓은 (neolb-eun) — lanky
  • Māori: tokoroa — lanky
  • Czech: prostorný — commodious
  • Czech: rozlehlý — commodious
  • Dutch: gerieflijk — commodious