describe

verb

de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
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.
There were so many things he wanted to describeJames 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 adjective
describer noun

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 Such hedonic adjustments — the term BLS uses to describe it’s adjustments for changes in item quality — span the whole consumer price index and include categories from men’s underwear to home computers to refrigerators. Gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 16 July 2024 The indictment also describes a Qatari investor ensuring that a Menendez relative received tickets for the 2023 Miami Grand Prix. New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were part of the scheme, were convicted as well. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 July 2024 Advertisement The three words that Hoang would use to describe her day-to-day style? Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024 The contents and tenor of those meetings have not been described publicly. Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post, 16 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for describe 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'describe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of describe was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near describe

Cite this Entry

“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

describe

verb
de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
2
: to trace the outline of
describe a circle
describable adjective
describer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on describe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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