run the gamut

verb

To encompass the full range or variety possible.

“His tastes in music run the gamut from classical to heavy metal.”

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Meanings

verbrun the gamut (third-person singular simple present runs the gamut, present participle running the gamut, simple past ran the gamut, past participle run the gamut)

present singular third person runs the gamut · participle present running the gamut · past ran the gamut

  1. idiomaticTo encompass the full range or variety possible.

    His tastes in music run the gamut from classical to heavy metal.

    1 more example

    Palestinians often feel that the police do very little to stop settler violence, which runs the gamut from physical assault, arson, cutting or burning down olive trees, stone throwing at random Palestinian cars, and property damage.

    2018, Edo Konrad, “Living in the constant shadow of settler violence”, in +972 Magazine

Origin

From gamut (“complete range”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

run the gamut. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gamut

MLA

“run the gamut.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gamut. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “run the gamut,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gamut.

Source: run the gamut on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.