described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
describe a picture
The police asked her to describe the thief.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
There were so many things he wanted to describe …—
James Joyce
James Joyce2
: to represent by a figure, model, or picture : delineate
described in her paintings what she saw from her window
3
obsolete
: distribute
4
: to trace or traverse the outline of
describe a circle
describer
noun
Examples of describe in a Sentence
The witness wasn't able to describe the robber.
He described the house in perfect detail.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
She described watching dolphins play beside the ship.
Please describe what happened next.
Can you describe the lost dog to me?
She used a stick to describe a circle on the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
That view was echoed by veteran market strategist Ed Yardeni, who described the rally as a forward-looking bet that the conflict will prove temporary, even after recent developments.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Niesen described the emotional scene of his deportation.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
But, as pointed out on Epicurious, the go-to website for foodies, the word elicits substantial reader backlash even when employed to describe chicken and cakes.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
In letters to the judge urging Mendoza Hernandez’s release, community members described him as a person of faith who is active in the community and a caring father to a 2-year-old child.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
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show current usage.
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Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Niesen described the emotional scene of his deportation.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
But, as pointed out on Epicurious, the go-to website for foodies, the word elicits substantial reader backlash even when employed to describe chicken and cakes.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
In letters to the judge urging Mendoza Hernandez’s release, community members described him as a person of faith who is active in the community and a caring father to a 2-year-old child.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
describe
verb
de·scribe
di-ˈskrīb 
described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
2
: to trace the outline of
describe a circle
describer
noun
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