describe

verb

di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
Definition of describenext
1
as in to depict
to give a representation or account of in words he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tell
to give an oral or written account of in some detail a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of describe The difference in ideals from reality is captured in the speeches that Romanzy and then Laura in a last minute substitution for Mary make at Founder’s Day, describing the town. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 July 2026 José San Miguel, a movement instructor and studio manager at FlowCorps Durham, described reformer workouts as a spectrum with Pilates and Lagree as distinct points and many variations in between. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026 Defense experts and strategists have described its drone campaign as pivotal in helping to stall Russia’s military momentum, while also warning that Kyiv’s deep-strike successes have drastically raised the risk of escalation. — Sam Meredith,elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 9 July 2026 In its own statement, LA28 described the use of the under construction Hollywood Park Studios in Inglewood as a supplement to the International Broadcast Center to support operations but not as the main base. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
  1. depict
  2. tell
  3. characterize
  4. portray
  5. relate
  6. define
  7. illustrate
  8. recount
Verb
  • Barin is the hotel’s high-end teppanyaki restaurant, seating 10 people at the counter and up to 16 in booths lining a long mural hand-drawn on gold leaf depicting Osaka’s history.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Zhenwu’s roots stretch back to ancient days as the god of the North, when he was often depicted as a turtle entwined with a snake.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of depict
Verb
  • During Murdaugh’s first status hearing on Monday, June 29, Judge Debra McCaslin did not rule on the DNA evidence, telling defense attorneys to clarify if the sample was viable.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • My parents tell stories about me sleeping through loud construction, alarms, and heavy knocks on my bedroom door.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • To characterize the new mode, Kyle Uckert, SHERLOC’s deputy principal investigator at NASA’s JPL, and his colleagues collected spectra from spare flight optics in their own lab.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
  • The standoff forces the platform to weigh compliance against a potentially expanding pattern of government control over social media — a tension that has also characterized India’s years-long friction with X over content-takedown orders.
    — Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of characterize
Verb
  • For all her talk of women as allies, Siebel Newsom portrays conservative women who criticize other women as dupes manipulated by MAGA leaders.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Rob, who died in December at age 78, portrayed George Washington in a segment inspired by the first president’s decision to step away after two terms in office.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of portray
Verb
  • Investigators said there was no evidence that the shootings were related.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Even tracks that might have lived elsewhere find their place once a world begins to form around them—a palette of emotional colors that don’t need to match, only to relate.
    — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Victor Willis, Village People’s lead singer, dies Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People who helped define the disco movement of the 1970s, died June 30.
    — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Instead of looking only for escapements or technical innovation, Newman encourages appreciation of cases, dials, proportions, engraving, and overall design—the same qualities that define today’s most desirable independent watches.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • Through their fantastical ordeals, the X-Men illustrate qualities that inspire viewers, young and old.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Scenes depicting Charles building the family’s new home, a robbery and even an expected pregnancy illustrate all of this.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 July 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • With humor and charm, the narrator recounts Ricky Daddy’s misadventures in love, until the narrative begins to shift in ways that cast the story in a different light.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2026
  • The play recounts the father-son dynamic between Shaw and his father, Thomas, who was also an alcoholic and who died when Robert Shaw was 12.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of recount

Browse Nearby Words

descrambling
describe
described
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Cite this Entry

“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describe. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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