delineate

verb

de·​lin·​eate di-ˈli-nē-ˌāt 

dē-

delineated; delineating

transitive verb

1

: to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail

delineate a character in the story

delineate the steps to be taken by the government

2

a

: to indicate or represent by drawn or painted lines

b

: to mark the outline of

lights delineating the narrow streets

delineator

di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-tər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms of delineate

• trace
• define
• outline

Examples of delineate in a Sentence

He plants his skates millimeters outside the blue-tinted 44-square-foot arena that delineates the crease and refuses to budge … —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 21 May 2007

Screenwriter Christopher Hampton introduces a large gallery of characters, subtly delineating the unspoken class biases that will keep Robbie, for all his confidence, charm and Cambridge education, an outsider. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2007

So Madrid finally ordered Onís to cut the best deal he could. The resulting Transcontinental (or Adams-Onís) Treaty of 1819 ceded Florida to the United States and delineated the boundary between American and Spanish territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean … —Walter A. McDougall, Promised Land, Crusader State, 1997

Privacy plays a unique role in American law. Although considered a core value by most citizens, it is not explicitly delineated as a protected right by the U.S. Constitution. —Edward A. Cavazos et al., Cyberspace and the Law, 1994

The report clearly delineates the steps that must be taken.

The characters in the story were carefully delineated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Data centers have become an unusually bipartisan flash point in the midterm elections, as candidates race to delineate policy platforms and respond to public opinion. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

More importantly, part two closes an emotional circle that the first one had just begun to delineate. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

For example, the Commonwealth has never delineated the exact interval of time between Patrick leaving the home and Clancy falling out the window. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Affordable concrete pavers from the hardware store and gravel delineate the area. — Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dēlīneātus, past participle of dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of," from dē- de- + līneāre "to make straight, mark with lines," derivative of līnea "string, cord, line entry 1"

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for delineate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

delineate

verb

de·​lin·​eate di-ˈlin-ē-ˌāt 

delineated; delineating

1

: to indicate by lines : sketch

2

: to describe in sharp or vivid detail

delineate the characters in a story

delineation

-ˌlin-ē-ˈā-shən

noun

delineator

-ˈlin-ē-ˌāt-ər 

noun