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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of define
Feet Above Ground is locally defined as feet above the Highest Astronomical Tide or HAT.
—
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The edges of the mole are irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
—Sarah Jividen, Health, 13 June 2025
The program defined orphans as children who had lost one or both parents to AIDS, and the children did not necessarily have HIV themselves.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 13 June 2025
His music is also a way for parents to connect with the club vibe that, for many, defined their pre-child years.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for define
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The edges of the mole are irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
—Sarah Jividen, Health, 13 June 2025
The program defined orphans as children who had lost one or both parents to AIDS, and the children did not necessarily have HIV themselves.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 13 June 2025
His music is also a way for parents to connect with the club vibe that, for many, defined their pre-child years.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
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Spanning her 1968 debut, Song to a Seagull, through her performance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, Joni’s Jazz traces Mitchell’s longstanding love affair with the titular genre.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2025
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The episode traces a February 2013 cruise aboard Carnival Triumph from Galveston, Texas to Mexico.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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All four victims had been stabbed multiple times by what authorities described as a large knife, likely a Ka-Bar.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
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The album name had been rattling around her brain for months, born out of years of experiences trying to find the right combination of words to describe her sound to other people, particularly the American media.—
Cat Cardenas,
Rolling Stone,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Newspapers have characterized the issues as a clash of personalities between the editor and presenter Naga Munchetty, who has herself been accused of making colleagues uncomfortable.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
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The caliber is also characterized by a vertical clutch and column wheel mechanism with chronograph minutes displayed by a central hand that jumps forward every 60 seconds.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Without specifying any figures, Sinclair says its ratings for women’s tennis have grown since 2023, especially among the coveted 18-to-34-year-old demographic.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
1 July 2025
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This must include at least 100 MHz from 3.98 to 4.2 GHz, but the plan doesn't specify where the rest of the 300 MHz or more would be taken from.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The complete national security agreement hasn’t been published publicly, although aspects of it have been outlined in statements and securities filings made by the companies, U.S. Steel said Wednesday.—
Marc Levy,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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When advocating for moral decisions—such as cutting ties with a supplier accused of labor violations—leaders should clearly outline the associated financial and operational consequences.—
HEC Paris Insights,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The final draft includes a $40,000 cap, but would limit it for five years.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2025
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Defining What is Wellbeing Intelligence: A Mental Health Skillset Wellbeing intelligence relies on a continuous self-assessment that does not limit itself to mental health.—
Thomas Roulet,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Verb
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The company aimed to portray someone overcoming obstacles to achieve their dream.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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The feds’ case portrayed the mogul as a ruthless and micromanaging boss who, during the two decades before his September 2024 arrest, abused his larger-than-life status in the industry to control his employees and lovers alike through violence and intimidation.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
24 June 2025
Verb
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On the continent, specific styles were used to delineate tribes, ethnic groups, and even hierarchical social order within such groups.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 June 2025
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There are enough vague, intractable whispers of diplomacy and further talks about talks, to provide the tantalising promise of a deal, without striking, or even delineating one.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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