described; describing
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
James Joyce2
: 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
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
Naadam is described as an ancient cultural spectacle and one of the few opportunities outsiders get to experience Mongolian culture up close.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
In March 1997, during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Halberstam was describing a pass by then-Heat backup point guard and current Heat TV analyst John Crotty, who played at Virginia, the university founded by Thomas Jefferson.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The other victims’ injuries were described as not life-threatening.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
But Guidara describes how hospitality can be intentionally embedded into every element of the dining experience — from the greeting at the door to the pacing of a meal.
—Iyesatta Massaquoi Emeli, STAT, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
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Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
In March 1997, during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Halberstam was describing a pass by then-Heat backup point guard and current Heat TV analyst John Crotty, who played at Virginia, the university founded by Thomas Jefferson.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The other victims’ injuries were described as not life-threatening.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
But Guidara describes how hospitality can be intentionally embedded into every element of the dining experience — from the greeting at the door to the pacing of a meal.
—Iyesatta Massaquoi Emeli, STAT, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
describer
noun
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