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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of outlines
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
And Williams outlines the benefits Ro has lent to her own life in the ad, noting that she’s lost 34 lbs since being on Ro’s GLP-1.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
The name refers to Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which outlines your rights to know what information is in your credit file and where that information came from.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
With just hours to go, The Athletic outlines the main Premier League deals to watch out for as deadline day unfolds.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit outlines the toll the new approach has taken.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Look for a backward question mark leaning to the left that outlines the chest and head of the lion.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The American Academy of Pediatrics now clearly outlines that breast milk from the mom is the best choice.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, Phillips outlines a strategic expansion that balances individual users with professional partnerships.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
The agreement’s outlines remain unclear, but potentially involve rights to Greenland’s minerals and increased NATO presence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After the stencil was created, it was changed to deliberately narrow the negative outlines of the fingers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of dropping someone into a full sketch right away, each lesson walks them from simple starting shapes to final outlines in a steady, predictable flow.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 12 outlines that ranked choice voting allows for voters to rank each candidate on a ballot for a particular office in an order of preference.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning the surrounding area, not just the stain, helps prevent outlines as the shoes dry.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
The nascent anti-smartphones movement in America is decidedly nonpartisan, for the most part, and this contributes to its potential and also to the vagueness of its outlines.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
Ideas, scripts, outlines, drafts, Act 1, 2 3 and so forth; casting, budgets.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
The filing outlines nine counts, including negligence against Ford Field and multiple defamation claims against Metcalf, Johnson and former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe's Shay Shay Media.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
And Williams outlines the benefits Ro has lent to her own life in the ad, noting that she’s lost 34 lbs since being on Ro’s GLP-1.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
The name refers to Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which outlines your rights to know what information is in your credit file and where that information came from.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
With just hours to go, The Athletic outlines the main Premier League deals to watch out for as deadline day unfolds.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit outlines the toll the new approach has taken.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Look for a backward question mark leaning to the left that outlines the chest and head of the lion.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The American Academy of Pediatrics now clearly outlines that breast milk from the mom is the best choice.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, Phillips outlines a strategic expansion that balances individual users with professional partnerships.
—Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Another approach to the French manicure, this look features little hearts and outlines to add a little interest.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
The agreement’s outlines remain unclear, but potentially involve rights to Greenland’s minerals and increased NATO presence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After the stencil was created, it was changed to deliberately narrow the negative outlines of the fingers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of dropping someone into a full sketch right away, each lesson walks them from simple starting shapes to final outlines in a steady, predictable flow.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 12 outlines that ranked choice voting allows for voters to rank each candidate on a ballot for a particular office in an order of preference.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning the surrounding area, not just the stain, helps prevent outlines as the shoes dry.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
The nascent anti-smartphones movement in America is decidedly nonpartisan, for the most part, and this contributes to its potential and also to the vagueness of its outlines.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
Ideas, scripts, outlines, drafts, Act 1, 2 3 and so forth; casting, budgets.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlines
Verb
-
Ben traces the idea to his family’s utilitarian history, referencing candle bags that once carried fragile items without damage.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The menswear store in the city’s upscale suburb of La Jolla traces its roots to 1950 when Jack Matzinger opened a conservative, traditional haberdashery on Girard Avenue.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With this one line, Julian neatly summarizes the direction Volpe’s film is about to take.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Every month, the agent effectively proactively summarizes their performance to our point of contact.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Set the tone with summaries and kind boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The story summaries above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The mascara features a thin, flexible nylon brush that defines lashes from root to tip.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
-
That spirit of inclusion still defines her legacy.—
Najahe Sherman,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Francis is one of a growing number of Africans fighting for Russia in Ukraine, though exact figures are not known.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Front Page Highlights Materials released by the Justice Department revealed that leading business and political figures had enduring relationships with the disgraced financier.—
Nicholas Confessore Devlin Barrett Kurt Streeter Amy Qin,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nuclear physicists are developing more advanced theoretical models to precisely predict the properties of unstable atomic nuclei with complicated structures, shapes and forces.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Sporting and technical director roles at clubs come in all shapes and sizes, but Costa’s is all-encompassing.—
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Think classic straight-leg black trousers from stalwarts like Nili Lotan and Theory, or the slouchy wide-leg silhouettes that brands like Toteme have perfected.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
From cozy sweater dresses that feel comfortable enough for long travel days to polished maxi dresses that work for dinners and special occasions, winter-friendly silhouettes make getting dressed on the road refreshingly easy.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlines. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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