inscribe

verb

in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb 

inscribed; inscribing; inscribes

transitive verb

1

a

: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record

b

: to enter on a list : enroll

2

a

: to write, engrave, or print characters upon

b

: to autograph or address (a book) as a gift

3

: to dedicate to someone

4

: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible

a regular polygon inscribed in a circle

5

British : to register the name of the holder of (a security)

inscriber noun

Synonyms

• engrave
• etch
• grave
• incise
• insculp [archaic]

Example Sentences

They inscribed the monument with the soldiers' names.

The book was inscribed with the author's signature.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Thorns logo is displayed atop the ring in a bed of stones, and the team’s ‘play with joy’ motto is inscribed inside. —oregonlive, 1 May 2023

In 1971, a multi-museum spree in Connecticut led to the loss of a painfully rare Colt Whitneyville Walker revolver: the holy grail of gun collectors everywhere, inscribed into the 19th-century history of Connecticut and Texas as the world’s first six-shooter. —Matthew Korfhage, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2023

And Alexa Torres’s Princess Florine, the Bluebird’s partner, inscribed each movement with joyousness and clean classical lines, infused with a hint of avian fluttering. —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 5 May 2023

Mormons believe Smith, confused about what denomination of Christianity to follow, received a vision from an angel named Moroni, who led Smith to a box containing a book inscribed on gold plates. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 29 Apr. 2023

The best utilization of this for Mother’s Day would be to have her kids’ names inscribed on the jewelry of your choosing. —Josie Howell | [e-mail], al, 16 Apr. 2023

Each shirt was inscribed with the number of times each performer was killed onscreen during the production. —Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2023

To the left and right of the portrait are photographs of Queen Isabella II of Spain inscribed to Manuel Batanero Montenegro — Blas Batanero’s son — and his wife, Pastoriza Flórez de Losada y Quiroga. —J.s. Marcus Anthony Cotsifas, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2023

All six victims' names are now inscribed on one of the Sept. 11 memorial pools, and the 9/11 museum has their photos and a room devoted to discussing the ’93 explosion. —Jennifer Peltz, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inscribere, from in- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

inscribe

verb

in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb 

inscribed; inscribing

1

a

: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record

inscribe a name on a monument

b

: to enter on a list : enroll

2

: to write, engrave, or print something on or in

inscribe a locket

3

: to dedicate to someone

inscribe a poem

4

: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible

a hexagon inscribed in a circle

inscriber noun

Legal Definition

inscribe

transitive verb

in·​scribe

inscribed; inscribing

: to set down in writing (as the terms of a mortgage) to create a lasting public record

inscription noun