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 of characterize

• describe
• portray
• define

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

El Niño, a climate pattern that is characterized by warmer-than-average ocean surface temperatures, developed in the tropical Pacific last month and is expected to strengthen, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

And will his presence eliminate the back-breaking mistakes that characterized 2025? — Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 23 July 2026

But what has characterized his agency’s response to the cyclospora outbreak is the relative absence of information, and that owes partly to an absence of staff. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 July 2026

Outside, more relaxation awaits in the sizeable outdoor pool and spacious bedrooms characterized by a quiet cottagecore ambiance. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for characterize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize
• democratize

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