1
as in traces
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
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2
as in describes
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in characterizes
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
as in specifies
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defines
Its name references the height of the tennis net, paying homage to the sport that defines the brand, in new suede colorways.
—
Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The result is consistent visibility without sacrificing the minimal, borderless aesthetic that defines the series.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
The part uniquely defines the whole.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines manageable debt as a debt-to-income ratio below 10% after graduation.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
But really, who defines war should be Congress.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Much of the volcanic landscape that defines the country lies inland and requires deliberate exploration ashore.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The current hearing largely focuses on one paragraph in the 2022 settlement that defines — in retrospect, poorly — seven metrics of progress the city must report to the court quarterly.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Locals cherish the balance between welcoming visitors and preserving the serenity that defines their hometowns.
—Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The result is consistent visibility without sacrificing the minimal, borderless aesthetic that defines the series.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
The part uniquely defines the whole.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines manageable debt as a debt-to-income ratio below 10% after graduation.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
But really, who defines war should be Congress.
—NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Much of the volcanic landscape that defines the country lies inland and requires deliberate exploration ashore.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The current hearing largely focuses on one paragraph in the 2022 settlement that defines — in retrospect, poorly — seven metrics of progress the city must report to the court quarterly.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Locals cherish the balance between welcoming visitors and preserving the serenity that defines their hometowns.
—Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defines
Verb
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Through a series of prison visits with a volunteer named Jackie, Nick traces a life shaped by impulse and consequence.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The trail traces the canyon rim, and there are no guardrails.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Stevenson describes the local craft brewing industry right now as the market adjusting itself, with the recent closures of breweries.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The clinic also describes him as having over 14 years of experience and involvement in thousands of procedures (as stated in their author/profile pages).—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s domestic political gift is the feral instinct for weakness that characterizes most authoritarians.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The initiative presents itself as targeting problematic practices within the personal injury legal system, with language attacking contingency fee arrangements that the company characterizes as self-dealing and designed to artificially inflate medical claims.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Use this setting for any clothing that specifies permanent press on the care tag, as well as with more delicate fabrics that tend to wrinkle.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, Indiana's Open Door Law only specifies the public's right to observe and record meetings.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The policy, introduced as a first reading, outlines how the district provides mental health education, training, and services on campus.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The annual tax break also depends on the accounting method used, which outlines how many years the owner has to recover the cost basis.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mekia Cox, who portrays Nyla Harper, wed basketball analyst Britt Leach in 2018, according to The Knot.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Arnett, Cooper, and Mark Chappell cowrote the screenplay, and Cooper portrays Balls, Alex's actor friend who serves as the film's comic relief.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There is an unmarked though unmistakable border that delineates passage into a different ecosystem, a different landscape, a different experience of being within the land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Nov. 2025
-
There’s a wealth of seating options to take in the views or cozy up by the double-sided fireplace that delineates the living and dining rooms.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Age of Imprisonment both controls and performs leaps and bounds better than its predecessors.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
-
As my guide Nicolas Jeanroy preps his truffle gear, which looks like a collection of garden tools, his canine partner, Taïga, bounds up.—
Aislyn Greene,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defines. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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