Ranged Attack
When you make a ranged attack, you fire a bow, hurl a handaxe, or otherwise send a projectile to strike a foe at a distance. A monster might shoot spines from its tail. Many spells involve making a ranged attack. (95)
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Targets must be within a specified range.
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A ranged attack is more difficult when the target is next to you.
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Walls, trees, and other obstacles can provide cover to a target.
When you make the attack, you make an attack roll.
A ranged attack can be made with:
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A ranged weapon (longbow, sling, etc.; see the Weapons Table).
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A melee weapon with the thrown property.
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An improvised weapon, such as a bottle, frying pan, weapon that is not intended to be thrown, such as sword, or a special item such as acid, alchemist's fire, or oil.
Ammunition:
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Most ranged weapons have the ammunition property and require a container. Pick up spent ammunition.
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Crossbows and blowguns have the loading property.
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Use of poison on ammunition.
Or instead of inflicting damage you could:
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use the Help action to assist an ally attack a foe
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Use the Ready action to strategically delay your Attack action.
More than one attack. Certain features, such as the Extra Attack feature of the fighter, allow you to make more than one attack with the Attack action. (93)
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There are other ways to make more than one attack, but most of these involve a bonus action, or a special attack action derived from a class feature, or an additional action (non-bonus) derived from a spell. For example: Two-Weapon Fighting, the Hunter Archetype of the ranger, the haste spell, or the Action Surge feature of the fighter.