1
as in tracing
to draw or make apparent the outline of
she carefully outlined the tree before she started drawing in the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in summarizing
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
outlined the important points in the introduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outlining
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce released a comprehensive binational report Wednesday outlining a five-pillar strategy to address the Tijuana River contamination crisis, a problem that has plagued South San Diego County communities for decades.
—
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
The next morning, Annie underwent a bone marrow biopsy — and after the initial results appeared to confirm the worst, doctors began outlining what chemotherapy treatment might look like.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Labor market anxiety was on full display last month when markets dropped on a Citrini Research report outlining an extreme scenario where AI disrupted every manner of knowledge jobs faster than the economy and policymakers could manage the transition.
—Conor Sen, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The initial report outlining the discrepancies also alleges that Nanos resigned from the El Paso Paso Police Department in lieu of termination in 1982, after numerous disciplinary issues.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Texas Wesleyan will also release a new plan outlining goals and initiatives for the university in the coming weeks.
—Samuel O’Neal 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
In the months prior to World War II, Roosevelt used his position of authority as president to give speech after speech, setting the context of the traumatic events of the 1930s, explaining the dangers at hand and outlining a course going forward.
—Charles Walldorf, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The leader of Oakland County delivered his annual State of the County address Thursday night, highlighting accomplishments and outlining plans aimed at improving residents' quality of life.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Departments operate under detailed use-of-force policies outlining when deadly force is justified and how incidents must be reviewed.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 5 Mar. 2026
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
The next morning, Annie underwent a bone marrow biopsy — and after the initial results appeared to confirm the worst, doctors began outlining what chemotherapy treatment might look like.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Labor market anxiety was on full display last month when markets dropped on a Citrini Research report outlining an extreme scenario where AI disrupted every manner of knowledge jobs faster than the economy and policymakers could manage the transition.
—Conor Sen, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The initial report outlining the discrepancies also alleges that Nanos resigned from the El Paso Paso Police Department in lieu of termination in 1982, after numerous disciplinary issues.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Texas Wesleyan will also release a new plan outlining goals and initiatives for the university in the coming weeks.
—Samuel O’Neal 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
In the months prior to World War II, Roosevelt used his position of authority as president to give speech after speech, setting the context of the traumatic events of the 1930s, explaining the dangers at hand and outlining a course going forward.
—Charles Walldorf, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The leader of Oakland County delivered his annual State of the County address Thursday night, highlighting accomplishments and outlining plans aimed at improving residents' quality of life.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Departments operate under detailed use-of-force policies outlining when deadly force is justified and how incidents must be reviewed.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlining
Verb
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Jonathan Martin, a meteorologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been tracking the size of this cold pool, tracing it back to when such reliable data began in the 1940s.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Someone investigating a leak may be able to discover you by tracing your habits.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Still unanswered, too, is why the allegations were included in a Justice Department slide presentation last year summarizing the cases against Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
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Goldberg said, summarizing why her name appears alongside Behar's in the documents.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That balcony—one of the defining features of the style—faces west toward the nearby San Jacinto Mountains and runs the length of the upper level.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
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In the six years since their last non-collaborative album, a new wave of young bands influenced by their crisp and orderly form of shoegaze have made the once-dormant genre one of the defining sounds of this decade.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlining. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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