define

1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to describe
to mark the limits of the river defines the town on the south

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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 define Returning to the wuxia genre that has defined much of his illustrious career, Tsui explains his approach to this latest adaptation of the classic martial arts tale. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2025 Uncertainty over inflation, trade wars and President Donald Trump’s capricious tariff policies have resulted in a bouncy market that briefly flirted with bear territory, defined as a drop of 20% from recent highs. Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 7 May 2025 Rowling also publicly celebrated the ruling, which excluded transgender women from being legally defined as women via the Equality Act. Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 7 May 2025 But which of these shades has truly resonated with homeowners and will define itself as the most popular color of the year? Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
  • The film traces how the lives of friends are entwined even after college. MAD Square released in theatres on 28 March and had a decent run at the box office.
    Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • Ex-crypto tycoons awaiting judgement The fall of crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, and lenders Voyager Digital and Celsius, can all be traced to the collapse of Kwon’s stablecoin project.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • In my book Status Quo is Not Company Policy: Empowering Innovation Through Adaptive Leadership, my coauthor interviewed our Engineering Manager, who described his experience prior to coming to Rayburn.
    David A. Naylor, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Read more Cassie takes stand in Diddy trial, describes freak offs in explicit detail The 2 'wild cards' on Sean 'Diddy' Combs jury, according to an expert Diddy's defense strategy comes into focus: Domestic abuser, but no criminal Why Is Broadcasting Prohibited in Court?
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Symptoms of Preeclampsia It's characterized by high blood pressure that usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, says Dr. Reed.
    Sarah Scott, Parents, 15 May 2025
  • That stretch was characterized by more downs than ups, including being a controversial captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup in 2023.
    Paul Sullivan, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The developer doesn’t specify any further system requirements.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • While officials haven't specified the nature of the attack, multiple media outlets report Lanez was stabbed.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • The hackers are now requesting additional ransoms from individual schools for this data, as one Toronto district outlined in a letter this week to parents and guardians.
    Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 8 May 2025
  • Here’s a two-in-one shelf and coat rack that oozes charm thanks to the playful scalloped detail outlining each hook.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • The new executive order builds on that policy by not limiting it to certain drugs under Medicare but also including Medicaid and private sector insurance available on the commercial marker, said White House spokesman Kush Desai.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Another common myth is that sustainable fashion is limited in aesthetic appeal—often perceived as overly simplistic, oversized or lacking in variety.
    Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Negotiation progress After his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump quickly signaled that the Biden administration’s position of portraying the conflict as an essential moral crusade was over.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
  • Keffer’s website portrays it as a small business that began in the family basement in 1996 and now operates out of a modest building near Grove City, Pa.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Sure, weather charts can delineate in real time twister movements, and their strength, but losing the actual sight ability makes for more uncertainty.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Fans filled the seats and stood outside the ropes delineating the area for the VIPs, while others in the upper reaches of the balconies leaned over to listen.
    Dana O'Neil, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on define

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!