sketch

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

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

sketcher

3 of 3

noun (2)

sketch·​er

ˈskechə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that sketches

specifically : one that sketches designs for stage sets

2

: letterer sense d

Synonyms of sketch

Noun (1)

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

Verb

• trace
• outline
• define

Examples of sketch in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Carvey, meanwhile, appeared on the late-night sketch comedy series from 1986 until 1993. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026

Lawrence Lewitinn is building an AI-native archive for his great-uncle’s works, which will systematize the artist’s sketches, pigment formulas, poems and color diagrams, along with his notes on color, perception and theory. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

Admittedly, Mitchell is fairly creative in sketching the run-up to the dinosaur takeover, which includes ominous signs such as long-extinct plant life taking root overnight. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

Sam would draw a map, sketching out the coastline of the Levant and marking a dot. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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