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

• etch
• engrave
• carve

Examples of inscribe in a Sentence

They inscribed the monument with the soldiers' names.

The book was inscribed with the author's signature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Khentika's tomb is a mastaba, one of the few in Egypt to have a curse inscribed on its facade. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Each one is fitted with a metal plate inscribed with a unique number. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025

Copies were numbered between 1 and 192 and inscribed with the reviewer’s name. —Alexander Sorondo, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025

Barrymore devoted some ink to her two daughters, Olive and Frankie, by getting their names inscribed on the inside of her right wrist in March 2016. —Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

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

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