characterize

verb

char·​ac·​ter·​ize ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 

ˈka-rik-

characterized; characterizing

transitive verb

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

Synonyms

• character
• define
• depict
• describe
• portray
• represent

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

Imperial Distillery produced classic, Speyside-style single malts, typically characterized by light, fruity, and malty notes. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

The new model includes a cabana on the main deck, 270-degree panoramic views and interiors characterized by four-meter high ceilings. —Sofia Celeste, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024

At 32 weeks pregnant, she’d been rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section after a routine checkup revealed a life-threatening case of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by a spike in blood pressure five times more likely to be fatal for Black women. —Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 3 Oct. 2024

Voters overwhelmingly characterized the debate as positive in tone, according to a CBS News poll conducted immediately following the match up. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids 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