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

In one of these journals, called Notebook B, there is an incidental sketch, a few scratched lines like the barren twigs of a winter tree. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

The British broadcaster recently reinstated That Mitchell and Webb Look online to mark its 20th anniversary, but eagle-eyed Reddit users pointed out that the broadcaster had removed sketches. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

Colbert gifted Kimmel his Captain America shield, did a sketch-within-an-interview with his son impersonating a Kiwi police officer, and shaved for our amusement. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

An overflow crowd packed into a South Side union training hall Thursday night and loudly rejected the plan sketched out by Amtrak officials for a massive new maintenance center in their neighborhood. — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 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