bentang

Bentang is an Indonesian word that functions as a noun meaning span, extent, or range, in space or time. It can describe how wide something is or how long an interval lasts, and it is often used in both literal and figurative contexts. The term also appears as a verb root, with membentang meaning to spread or stretch, and membentangkan meaning to unfold or lay out something.

Common compound phrases include bentang waktu (span of time), bentang wilayah or bentang geografis (geographic extent), bentang ilmu (field or scope of knowledge), bentang budaya (cultural scope), and bentang alam (natural landscape). These usages highlight the word’s versatility in describing scope, reach, or distribution across a domain.

In discourse and formal writing, pembentangan is a noun formed from the verb, referring to a presentation, display, or exposition, while pembentangan can also denote the act of presenting a proposal or report. The word can be used both literally—for example, describing the width of a riverbed—and figuratively, as in speaking about the bentang of an issue or policy.

Etymologically, bentang derives from Malay-Indonesian usage related to spreading or widening. It is widely understood across Indonesia and in Malay-speaking communities and appears in everyday speech, media, and academic writing.