1
as in tracing
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
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2
as in describing
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
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3
as in characterizing
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
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4
as in specifying
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 defining
Longbow believes weight has become the defining problem across the car industry.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Many who lost their homes — including generations of Black locals who gave the mountain town a defining part of its identity for decades — remain displaced.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That’s played out across numerous collaborations over the last few decades, with pop culture-defining shoots lensed by Steven Klein and tours that followed costumed by the house.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Sphere has quickly become one of the city’s defining landmarks, both for its programming (which includes concerts and the reimagined Wizard of Oz), and for its Exosphere, which has become an attraction in and of itself.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
The service Delightful, and a defining part of the experience.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
But certain hair types might be better candidates to show off its sharp, defining edges.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
There was something defining about that moment for me.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
If certified, the Johnson case could establish a significant precedent in defining the Education Department’s obligations under the FCRA.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Many who lost their homes — including generations of Black locals who gave the mountain town a defining part of its identity for decades — remain displaced.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That’s played out across numerous collaborations over the last few decades, with pop culture-defining shoots lensed by Steven Klein and tours that followed costumed by the house.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Sphere has quickly become one of the city’s defining landmarks, both for its programming (which includes concerts and the reimagined Wizard of Oz), and for its Exosphere, which has become an attraction in and of itself.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
The service Delightful, and a defining part of the experience.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
But certain hair types might be better candidates to show off its sharp, defining edges.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
There was something defining about that moment for me.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
If certified, the Johnson case could establish a significant precedent in defining the Education Department’s obligations under the FCRA.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defining
Verb
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Directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, the two-part documentary explores the fascinating, hilarious, and often heartbreaking life story of one of Hollywood’s most daring satirists, tracing how laughter became Brooks’ lifelong survival tool.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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The newest Paul McCartney documentary takes fans on a ride of his creative rebirth in the years following the breakup of The Beatles, tracing his transition from one of the most famous musicians in the world to an artist rebuilding himself on his own terms.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After describing the facts of the case, Colbert later sat down with discuss the situation with MS NOW host Chris Hayes.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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But video footage of the encounter, posted online and verified by The New York Times and other outlets, raises questions about how federal officials are describing the incident.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a statement posted to Instagram, SAG-AFTRA, one of the largest entertainment unions, blasted its creation, characterizing it as an affront to the work of human performers.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
10 Dec. 2025
-
People are characterizing them and not listening to them.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The changes were initiated by the Homeland Security Department, the current official said, without specifying which cities were impacted.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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Without specifying the countries of origin, the Russian Defense Ministry said foreign fighter jets were scrambled to identify the Russian aircraft on parts of their flight, adding that the flight was in strict compliance with international airspace rules.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those streamers that have accrued more than a million subscribers in the country will be required to spend a portion of their local revenue or investment on original Australian shows or films after the government introduced a bill outlining new rules.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has asked the federal government for $1 billion to improve rural health care, outlining plans for adding community health workers, investing in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and establishing more partnerships across the state.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
There might be nothing more adorable than the sight of a fluffy puppy or kitten bounding around the corner to surprise its new owner.—
Terry Ward,
USA Today,
1 Dec. 2025
-
In the clip, Charlie can be seen bounding, burrowing and lounging blissfully in the winter powder while bundled up in a blue jacket.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Venezuelan government has denied these allegations, portraying the agency as essential to defending national sovereignty against coups and foreign intervention.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
-
He was best known for portraying Randy Benton on NBC's long-running Western The Virginian.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This method prevents clutter by limiting how much can be stacked, keeping everything tidy and accessible.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Health care experts and politicians on both sides of the aisle agree that medical schools must find ways to lower their costs, but critics of the loan caps say limiting federal lending isn’t the answer.—
Tribune News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defining. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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