inscribe

1 of 3

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

inscriber

2 of 3

noun (1)

in·​scrib·​er

-bə(r)

: one that inscribes

inscriber

3 of 3

noun (2)

in·​scrib·​er

ˈinzˌkrībə(r), 

ˈinˌsk-

: a device for transferring data from a punched tape onto a medium (as magnetic wire) for use in an electronic computer compare outscriber

Synonyms of inscribe

Verb

• etch
• engrave
• carve

Examples of inscribe in a Sentence

Verb

They inscribed the monument with the soldiers' names.

The book was inscribed with the author's signature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the course of its hundred and forty-nine performances, the Eras Tour literally inscribed itself into geological time, the vibrations from the stomping fans registering on the Richter scale. — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

But, outside of clothing items and a set of denture plates inscribed with a partially illegible set of numbers, there was too little evidence recovered from the scene to generate leads in the case. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Sites in South Sudan, Lebanon, and the State of Palestine made the list, along with properties in Ukraine, Suriname, and, again, Lebanon, that were already inscribed on the World Heritage List and are now on the List of World Heritage in Danger. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026

When Tori Penso walked onto the field, her three daughters were with her – their names inscribed on her cleats as a reminder of what the occasion meant beyond the whistle. — Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun (2)

probably from in- (from input) + -scriber (from transcriber)

First Known Use

Verb

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

Rhymes for inscribe

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

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