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
sketched; sketching; sketches
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
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
Sam Reed, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2025
The throwback image was held up alongside a new sketch up the red dress, which was the blueprint of the recreated gown that Kris wore to the 20th Anniversary of L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles alongside daughter Kendall Jenner.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Budding musicians can unwrap a real guitar made for little hands, while this drawing projector lets young artists sketch from pictures.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sketch
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Noun
Below, Padilla opens up to Glamour about her path to Saturday Night Live, how her favorite sketches came together, her time with Keaton, and what’s next.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2025
The throwback image was held up alongside a new sketch up the red dress, which was the blueprint of the recreated gown that Kris wore to the 20th Anniversary of L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles alongside daughter Kendall Jenner.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
Alongside partner Kevin McKillop, the titular Moose in early ’90s shoegaze progenitor group of the same name, Berenyi sketched out dream-pop reductions aided by drum machine.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Budding musicians can unwrap a real guitar made for little hands, while this drawing projector lets young artists sketch from pictures.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sketch
Cite this Entry
“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sketch
1 of 2 noun1
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 verb1
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
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