1
as in traces
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 summarizes
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
1
as in contours
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface
place your hand on the paper and draw an outline around it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in summaries
a short statement of the main points
a printed outline of the lecture has been made available for all attendees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outlines
Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Based on this experience, this article outlines four strategies for building regional hubs that create sustainable competitive advantages.
—Kevin Cushnie, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The memorandum outlines plans to evaluate integration pathways, conduct joint feasibility assessments, and engage with classification societies and regulators to prepare for deployment.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Wainwright outlines the lessons gleaned at a two-day conference centered on narrative and social change as well as the approaches and strategies for changing public narratives.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
The draft, titled Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain, outlines steps to creating and seeking alternative chronic pain treatments amid the opioid epidemic, specifically the development of non-opioid analgesic products.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The autopsy outlines two injuries, at least one gunshot wound to the head, and a fractured nose.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
The final edition, which Knopf has sent to the printers, includes a foreword that outlines the changes in Giuffre’s life since the manuscript was completed in the fall of 2024.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
China’s Xi outlines global vision at major summit Chinese leader Xi Jinping further outlined his vision for a global order with Beijing at its center.
—semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Ascending patterns elsewhere in the strings blur the outlines of that governing idea.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
In a terse statement confirming only the broad outlines of the incident, the Pentagon equated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government to a narco-trafficking cartel, allegations Caracas denies.
—Phil Stewart, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Eli would weigh in on everything from outlines to scripts, and even joined the writers' room on occasion.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
The playbook is still being written, yes, but the outlines are clear.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Over the years, donghua became shaped—if not overshadowed—by the look of anime and Hollywood animation; the Ne Zha in the 2003 series resembles a Disney character, defined by thick outlines and fluid movement.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
There was a lot of back and forth and a lot of outlines and even a lot of screenplays.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to intimidate the European Union, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.
—Geir Moulson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
An asthma action plan is a form that outlines what to do when symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, fatigue or abdominal pain occur.
—Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Based on this experience, this article outlines four strategies for building regional hubs that create sustainable competitive advantages.
—Kevin Cushnie, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The memorandum outlines plans to evaluate integration pathways, conduct joint feasibility assessments, and engage with classification societies and regulators to prepare for deployment.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Wainwright outlines the lessons gleaned at a two-day conference centered on narrative and social change as well as the approaches and strategies for changing public narratives.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
The draft, titled Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain, outlines steps to creating and seeking alternative chronic pain treatments amid the opioid epidemic, specifically the development of non-opioid analgesic products.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The autopsy outlines two injuries, at least one gunshot wound to the head, and a fractured nose.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
The final edition, which Knopf has sent to the printers, includes a foreword that outlines the changes in Giuffre’s life since the manuscript was completed in the fall of 2024.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
China’s Xi outlines global vision at major summit Chinese leader Xi Jinping further outlined his vision for a global order with Beijing at its center.
—semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Prairie Village’s rules mirror Leawood’s, with similar outlines to age requirements for class 3 e-bikes in particular, yielding and giving audible signals to pedestrians, following manufacturer recommendations and not allowing distracted or reckless operation of the device.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Ascending patterns elsewhere in the strings blur the outlines of that governing idea.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
In a terse statement confirming only the broad outlines of the incident, the Pentagon equated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government to a narco-trafficking cartel, allegations Caracas denies.
—Phil Stewart, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Eli would weigh in on everything from outlines to scripts, and even joined the writers' room on occasion.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
The playbook is still being written, yes, but the outlines are clear.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Over the years, donghua became shaped—if not overshadowed—by the look of anime and Hollywood animation; the Ne Zha in the 2003 series resembles a Disney character, defined by thick outlines and fluid movement.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
There was a lot of back and forth and a lot of outlines and even a lot of screenplays.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to intimidate the European Union, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.
—Geir Moulson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlines
Verb
-
The program traces a path from Zehetmair’s contemporary turbulence back through the romantic reconciliation of Johannes Brahms’ last orchestral work to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final symphony.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Narrated by Lily Tomlin and based on Vito Russo’s landmark book, this classic 1995 documentary traces a century of LGBTQ+ representation on screen.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The school’s deputy, Amanda (Tracy Ullman), summarizes the situation with a succinct outline of her duties.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Saul is the author and founder of the non-partisan, independent newsletter Tangle, which summarizes the best arguments from the right and left on the big political news of the day.—
Isaac Saul,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Penske says roughly 20% of Google searches leading to its sites now display AI Overviews — and, here’s the rub, that those summaries lift material from publishers’ work, answer the user’s query directly on the results page, and keep readers from clicking through.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Additionally, some of the summaries broke off in the middle of a sentence with no obvious way to read the missing text.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sometimes true reinvention requires letting go of assumptions about what defines potential, fairness or even leadership.—
Prithvi Singh Shergill,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The research defines streaming audiences as anyone who watched at least one online video — free or paid — during the past month.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
ABC's move is latest high-profile example of media figures facing repercussions for comments about Kirk's killing.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Facts and figures The Red Sox are 82-69.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Simply line up the shapes on the end of each beam to put together for an obstacle course or indoor play.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Soak the designs in a bowl of cold water and then apply the leaf shapes to plain or colored vases to decorate your living room with fall spirit.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Amazon’s selection of cardigans includes a range of shapes and silhouettes, like open-front and maxi-length layers, and our top picks are all under $35.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
People.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Harem or balloon pants seen in recent collections are a sophisticated evolution from their original bohemian incarnations, featuring cleaner lines, refined fabrics and streamlined silhouettes.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outlines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlines. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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