narrate

verb

nar·​rate ˈner-ˌāt 

ˈna-ˌrat,

na-ˈrāt 

narrated; narrating

transitive verb

: to tell (a story) in detail

The children enjoyed the lively manner with which she narrated her life's story.

also : to provide spoken commentary for (something, such as a movie or television show)

The documentary is narrated by a famous actor.

narrator

ˈner-ˌā-tər 

ˈna-ˌrā-

na-ˈrā-

nə-;

ˈner-ə-

ˈna-rə-

noun

Synonyms

• chart
• chronicle
• describe
• recite
• recount
• rehearse
• relate
• report
• tell

Examples of narrate in a Sentence

The author narrates her story in great detail.

a documentary narrated by a famous actor

Recent Examples on the Web

But Maggie’s story, to a large extent, is narrated by Maggie, and that was really important. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2024

Doodie Lo narrates his rags to riches story while flexing his AP but remembering the days of hoisting his G-Shock like a Rolex. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2024

Recent coverage narrates the sad decline of a once-great American company, with the outcome looking dim. —Bygeoff Colvin, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2024

The Baby Boomer episode will be narrated by Forest Whitaker, and explores those who grew up in the shadow of world events like the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the assassinations of JFK, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin narratus, past participle of narrare, from Latin gnarus knowing; akin to Latin gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

narrate

verb

nar·​rate ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt  na-ˈrāt 

narrated; narrating

: relate sense 1, tell

narrate a story

narrator

ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt-ər 

na-ˈrāt-

nə-;

ˈnar-ət-

noun