1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to specify
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of define
Resilience and adaptability continue to define the companies that endure.
—
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Of course, if Jarrett doesn’t make it to Cologne in time, or if Vera can’t find the right piano for him before the curtain goes up, the whole thing could easily turn into a life-defining fiasco.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
From the moment the Creature is brought to life, his existence is defined by torment and pain.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Wright, 39, has been a mail carrier for a decade and told rescuing animals has become a defining part of her life.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for define
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Of course, if Jarrett doesn’t make it to Cologne in time, or if Vera can’t find the right piano for him before the curtain goes up, the whole thing could easily turn into a life-defining fiasco.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
From the moment the Creature is brought to life, his existence is defined by torment and pain.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Wright, 39, has been a mail carrier for a decade and told rescuing animals has become a defining part of her life.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
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Much of this momentum traces back to China’s DeepSeek, whose lean, low-cost models upended industry assumptions at the beginning of this year and kicked off a race to make AI smaller, faster, and smarter.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
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Multiple projects invite audiences as co-creators, from participatory explorations to decade-long digital archives, tracing how the internet evolved from a space of eager creativity and connection to one where humans have become commodified as product.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then layer the bulbs as described above, tossing organic fertilizer into the bottom of each layer to support root growth.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
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In response to a Star inquiry, the State Department confirmed Arrington’s role in obtaining the replica and described the former director as helpful and knowledgeable.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Protest organizers have trained thousands in de-escalation techniques and have promised the day will be safe, even as political rhetoric characterizes demonstrators as being aligned with terrorist forces.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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The White House regularly characterizes undocumented immigrants as drivers of urban lawlessness, even though the data show that is not true.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Spotify’s blog post didn’t specify whether the development would be opt-in or opt-out to determine training permissions.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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The law did not specify whether the hanging should be public or private.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to the Defense Department’s press office, which outlined the new rules last month, reporters covering the Pentagon must sign a pledge not to obtain or use unauthorized material (even if the information is unclassified).—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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Let’s start by outlining the situation that motivated inflation, what the idea of inflation is, and what the theory does (and doesn’t) predict, both generically and in gory detail.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lyra’s existence pushes back against the moral absolutes and gendered expectations that define her world and seek to limit her agency.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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This helps limit what hackers and AI scrapers can learn about you online.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But no matter the intent — the intent can be right, but when things get misconstrued, or however the media wants to portray it, that leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the guys on our team.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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That pic won Safdie best director at Venice and earned Johnson the best reviews of his career portraying UFC fighter Mark Kerr.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There’s a wealth of seating options to take in the views or cozy up by the double-sided fireplace that delineates the living and dining rooms.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
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The 323-foot fly ball came down and hit the pole on the black line that delineates between a ball being out of the park or in play.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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