describes; described; describing
1
: to tell someone the appearance, sound, smell, events, etc., of (something or someone) : to say what something or someone is like
The witness wasn't able to describe the robber.
He described the house in perfect detail.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
She described watching dolphins play beside the ship.
Please describe what happened next.
Can you describe the lost dog to me?
—often + asHe was described by his friends as generous and loyal.
Reporters described the scene as a disaster area.
2
formal
: to make a motion or draw a line that shows the shape of (something)
She used a stick to describe a circle on the ground.
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/describe. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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