characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 
ˈka-rik-
characterized; characterizing
1
: to describe the character (see character entry 1 sense 1a) or quality of
characterizes him as ambitious
2
: to be a characteristic of : distinguish
an era characterized by greed
Examples of characterize in a Sentence
How would you characterize the situation?
I would characterize this as a positive change for our company.
She had difficulty characterizing their relationship.
His personality is hard to characterize.
Farms and large flat fields characterize most of the area.
the beliefs that characterized Europe in the 15th century
Recent Examples on the Web
His creations are celebrated for their bold and daring designs, characterized by sky-high heel heights and dramatic shapes.
—
Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Antique brass is characterized by darker brown-gold tones with intentional patina.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
Of course, realpolitik aside, the probes into Netflix’s accepted $83 billion bid for WBD’s streaming and studio assets has again been characterized as a form of consumer protection and consumer choice.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Per the Tourette Association of America, the condition is characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Antique brass is characterized by darker brown-gold tones with intentional patina.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
Of course, realpolitik aside, the probes into Netflix’s accepted $83 billion bid for WBD’s streaming and studio assets has again been characterized as a form of consumer protection and consumer choice.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Per the Tourette Association of America, the condition is characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈkar-ik-tə-ˌrīz
characterized; characterizing
1
: to point out the character of an individual or group : describe
characterize him as ambitious
2
: to be characteristic of
tragic endings characterized her stories
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
