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

No Bad Memories is an unusual gambit; by my count, there are 12 interstitial sketches to the record’s 14 proper songs. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026

Two church members reinterpreted the Gospel story of Jesus walking on water as a sketch involving a modern conversation between Jesus and Peter. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, and other tech heavyweights have collaborated to sketch a new electrical architecture for them, with a different kind of transformer facing the grid, and a small industry has formed to build it. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Darman sketched out on paper a comparison of all the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to work at the Post while writing books, versus moving to TV. — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 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