sketch

1 of 2

noun

ˈskech 

1

a

: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study

b

: a tentative draft (as for a literary work)

2

: a brief description (as of a person) or outline

3

a

: a short literary composition somewhat resembling the short story and the essay but intentionally slight in treatment, discursive in style, and familiar in tone

b

: a short instrumental composition usually for piano

c

: a slight theatrical piece having a single scene

especially : a comic variety act

sketch

2 of 2

verb

sketched; sketching; sketches

transitive verb

: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of

intransitive verb

: to draw or paint a sketch

sketcher noun

Synonyms of sketch

Noun

• drawing
• portrait
• illustration
• depiction
• image
• cartoon

Verb

• trace
• outline
• define

Examples of sketch in a Sentence

Noun

He made a sketch of his house.

He wrote up a sketch of the plot.

There is a biographical sketch of the author on the book's back cover.

Verb

He sketched the trees outside his window.

He likes to sit outside and sketch.

She sketched the plan for us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Stripper At last, Storrie breaks out the Russian accent in this sketch about a bachelorette party stripper who gets hit by a car on the way there. —Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026

But, sketches are not the usual project included in these kinds of festivals. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026

Verb

This seasonal workshop series by Kate Rutter teaches you simple ways to observe nature, sketch and to note and quantify natural phenomena. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

Long before downtown workshops and a growing client base, Kiel and her business partner gathered around the table every day, sketching concepts and services, and building a company from the ground up. —Contributor, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch schets, from Italian schizzo, literally, splash, from schizzare to splash, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1694, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing sketch

• sketch in
• sketch pad
• thumbnail sketch

Rhymes for sketch

• etch
• fetch
• fletch
• ketch
• stretch
• vetch
• wretch

Kids Definition

sketch

1 of 2 noun

ˈskech 

1

a

: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene

b

: a rough draft (as of a story)

2

: a brief description or outline

3

: a short comedy piece

sketch

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of

2

: to draw or paint a sketch

sketcher noun