describe

verb

de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb 

described; describing

transitive verb

1

: to represent or give an account of in words

describe a picture

The police asked her to describe the thief.

The article describes how the experiment was done.

There were so many things he wanted to describe …

—James Joyce

2

: to represent by a figure, model, or picture : delineate

described in her paintings what she saw from her window

3

obsolete : distribute

4

: to trace or traverse the outline of

describe a circle

5

archaic : observe, perceive

describable

di-ˈskrī-bə-bəl 

adjective

describer noun

Synonyms of describe

• depict
• portray
• characterize
• illustrate

Examples of describe in a Sentence

The witness wasn't able to describe the robber.

He described the house in perfect detail.

The article describes how the experiment was done.

She described watching dolphins play beside the ship.

Please describe what happened next.

Can you describe the lost dog to me?

She used a stick to describe a circle on the ground.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tensions had already intensified Monday when Pakistani fighter jets struck sites in eastern Afghanistan that Islamabad described as militant hideouts. — Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

Maduko’s behavior, as described in the report, appears to have grown increasingly aggressive in his alleged harassment of women in the CSCU system. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Raman described Sosnick as a constituent and a board member with the Oaks Neighborhood Assn. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

This is Maria describing the Proust volumes, but for me those words apply to Robert Caro. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin describere, from de- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing describe

• can't even begin to describe

Rhymes for describe

• ascribe
• imbibe
• inscribe
• prescribe
• proscribe
• subscribe
• transcribe
• bribe
• gibe
• jibe
• tribe
• vibe

Kids Definition

describe

verb

de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb 

described; describing

1

: to represent or give an account of in words

2

: to trace the outline of

describe a circle

describable

-ˈskrī-bə-bəl 

adjective

describer noun