Synonyms of outlines

outlines 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of outline

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

• traces
• defines
• sketches
• delineates
• lines
• silhouettes
• circles
• surrounds
• trims
• rounds
• margins
• edges
• frames
• draws
• bounds
• charts
• diagrams
• maps (out)
• rings
• fringes
• encircles
• rims
• loops
• skirts
• hems
• girths
• girdles
• compasses

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

• summarizes
• recapitulates
• encapsulates
• reprises
• briefs
• sums up
• consolidates
• epitomizes
• digests
• recaps
• boils down
• synopsizes
• wraps up
• abstracts
• condenses
• shortens
• curtails
• abridges
• simplifies
• shrinks
• cuts back
• downsizes
• streamlines
• concentrates
• essentializes
• decocts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extends
• lengthens
• prolongs
• elongates
• expands
• supplements
• amplifies
• protracts
• elaborates (on or upon)
• enlarges (on or upon)

outlines

2 of 2

noun

plural of outline

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

• contours
• figures
• shapes
• silhouettes
• sketches
• forms
• skylines
• profiles
• geometries
• casts
• frameworks
• delineations
• skeletons
• configurations
• conformations

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

• summaries
• summae
• summarizations
• synopses
• recapitulations
• précis
• recaps
• briefs
• digests
• sums
• résumés
• abstracts
• rundowns
• encapsulations
• inventories
• summings-up
• roundups
• conspectuses
• breviaries
• sum-ups
• capsules
• epitomes
• run-throughs
• abbreviations
• wrap-ups
• condensations
• compendiums
• compends
• abridgments
• reprises
• rehashes
• curtailments
• simplifications
• shortenings
• conclusions
• epilogues

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expansions
• enlargements
• supplements
• amplifications
• addenda

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of outlines

Verb

The financial penalties are wide-ranging, banning nearly all US trade with Iran, blocking Iranian government assets in the country and prohibiting foreign assistance and arms sales, the report outlines. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Longtime American soccer reporter Pablo Maurer’s story outlines a potential 20-team competition that expands the postseason field by two while also adding incentives for teams to finish higher in the table. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

That provision outlines employee telework requests are to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The latter recounts his travels to the island of Utopia and outlines its customs, which contrast sharply with common practice in England. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026

Opening statements are scheduled to start Tuesday, with lawyers representing California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky detailing their claims before Meta’s legal team outlines the company’s defenses. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Those commitments should be included in a framework agreement, signed by all sides, which outlines the core elements of an eventual peace and enables a cessation of hostilities. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026

Keller city council member comments After the second closed session, McMullin said the council’s resolution outlines all the concerns that Keller residents mentioned. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026

How that timer works varies from company to company, but the IRS outlines two common models. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

To ensure a net gain, our agency completely avoids cliché prompts and invests significant time in sharpening them with firsthand data, raw outlines and strict audience constraints. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

In his experimental doc, Wadimoff has the Palestinian refugees recreate the experiences of their escape from Gaza on a barren stage marked out by chalk outlines, in the style of Lars von Trier’s Dogville. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

The sky was a smoky grayish-orange and trees a few hundred yards away had turned to ghostly outlines. — Lorraine Boissoneault, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

But classes, workshops, books and experience have taught me practical approaches to developing outlines, deepening character arcs or revising scenes. — Rajani Larocca, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Compressed color values—in contrast to the wide modulations in tone that Cassatt allowed elsewhere—heighten the sense of mass, while unexpected bright blue outlines seal their contours. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Alternatively, the president could start over and build a plan consistent with the doctrine’s outlines. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026

According to the source, the broad outlines have largely been agreed upon, with the remaining discussions focused on implementation and timing. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Usual signals include overly polished images, bright colors on black backgrounds, brushstroke fonts with glowing outlines, crowded compositions and graphics or text filling every inch of the flyer. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026