paint/draw a picture of

phrase

: to create an idea or understanding of (something or someone) through words, facts, etc.
The author paints a disturbing picture of life in the camp.
These statistics draw a clear picture of how the population is aging.

Examples of paint/draw a picture of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Court records paint a picture of Swadley’s chaotic flight in the 48 hours after the killings of Lori Simonds and her son, Evan, in their home on the 3100 block of Joanne Circle. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026 However, the mounting injuries and the performance against contenders paint a picture of looming May disappointment. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026 Lawyers for Tate's family wanted to call Emanuel to the stand to paint a picture of systemic issues within the department, including a pattern of coverups and excessive force. — Dave Savini, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026 Mapping the spread and evolution of major diseases that have affected humans through history can help paint a picture of how ancient communities lived. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paint/draw a picture of

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paint/draw a picture of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paint%2Fdraw%20a%20picture%20of. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster