ik-STENT
/ɪkˈstɛnt/
extent is pronounced ik-STENT (/ɪkˈstɛnt/). Extent is a noun or verb meaning the range, scope, or area covered by something, or to stretch or spread to a certain limit. It denotes how far something reaches in size, influence, or duration. In usage, it often complements adjectives (to no small extent) or describes degrees of measurement or coverage, as in “to this extent” or “extends the extent of.”.
Extent is a noun or verb meaning the range, scope, or area covered by something, or to stretch or spread to a certain limit. It denotes how far something reaches in size, influence, or duration. In usage, it often complements adjectives (to no small extent) or describes degrees of measurement or coverage, as in “to this extent” or “extends the extent of.”
"The extent of the damage was greater than initially estimated."
"The research will determine the extent of the project’s impact."
"He extended his arm to the full extent."
It’s pronounced /ɪkˈstɛnt/ in US and UK English, with the stress on the second syllable: ex-TENT. Start with a short “ih” vowel, then a crisp /k/, then /st/ cluster, then a clear /ɛ/ as in “bed,” and finish with /nt/. Audio references like Pronounce or Forvo can help you hear the exact timing and the tense consonant blend in the final syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying EX-tent) and softening the /t/ after /st/ (making it like /s/ or /t/). Another error is an overly tense jaw leading to a drawn-out /t/ or mispronouncing the /ɛ/ as /eɪ/. Corrective tips: keep the /st/ cluster tight, use a short, crisp /t/ at the end, and position the tongue for a mid-open /ɛ/ (like ‘bed’) before the final nasal closure.
In US, UK, and AU accents the core pronunciation /ɪkˈstɛnt/ remains, with the vowel in the first syllable slightly reduced to an ‘ih’ sound. US tends toward a sharper /ɪ/ and a slightly stronger /t/ release. UK may have a marginally shorter /ɛ/ and a crisper final /nt/. Australian often preserves vowel length similarly but with a more centralized vowel quality in the first syllable. The rhoticity doesn’t affect this word, as it is non-rhotic in most British varieties but not a factor in pronunciation of extent itself.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /st/ followed by /t/ and the mid-open /ɛ/ vowel. Coordinating a tight alveolar /s/ with a crisp /t/ before a nasal makes the final syllable precise. People often insert a vowel between /st/ and /t/ or reduce the /ɛ/ vowel. Practicing tight tongue position for /st/ and ensuring a clean, short final /t/ will help reduce slurring or misarticulation.
Is the 'e' in extent pronounced as a separate syllable in connected speech? Not typically. In careful pronunciation you’ll hear the two-syllable pattern where the first syllable is unstressed and quickly reduced, with the second syllable carrying stress: ex-TENT. In fast speech you might hear a slight reduction of the first vowel, but the word generally remains two syllables with /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ as described.
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Extent comes from Middle English extenten, which itself derives from Old French estendre ‘to stretch, extend, spread,’ from Latin extendere ‘to stretch out, spread, extend,’ from ex- ‘out’ + tendere ‘to stretch.’ The original sense emphasized the act of stretching or spreading something to its reach. Over time, English adopted the noun form extent to refer not only to the act of extending but also to the degree, breadth, or scope to which something reaches or is applied. In early usage, you’ll see phrases like ‘to extend’ used in legal, nautical, and architectural contexts, with ‘extent’ appearing to capture the measurable range or final reach. By the 16th–18th centuries, ‘extent’ broadened into common usage for both physical spans (the extent of a wall) and abstract ranges (the extent of influence). Modern usage favors both literal and figurative senses, such as the extent of damage or to a certain extent, maintaining the core Spanish/Latin root concept of stretching or measurement. First known use in English literature traces to the late 14th century as a noun related to the act of extending, with semantic evolution aligning closely with the sense of reach and magnitude we rely on today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "extent" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "extent" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "extent"
-end sounds
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