described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
describe a picture
The police asked her to describe the thief.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
There were so many things he wanted to describe …—
James Joyce
James Joyce2
: to represent by a figure, model, or picture : delineate
described in her paintings what she saw from her window
3
obsolete
: distribute
4
: to trace or traverse the outline of
describe a circle
describer
noun
Examples of describe in a Sentence
The witness wasn't able to describe the robber.
He described the house in perfect detail.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
She described watching dolphins play beside the ship.
Please describe what happened next.
Can you describe the lost dog to me?
She used a stick to describe a circle on the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the accounts of parents and officials who spoke anonymously, the students described administrators beating them with sticks on their legs, backs and genitals while being forced to maintain stress positions.
—Mark Banchereau The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
In the report, more than 35 former employees describe a workplace culture where intimidation, aggressive behavior and unpaid labor were the norm inside one of the world’s best restaurants.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 12 Mar. 2026
As the developers described the plan, residents began asking other questions, often interrupting.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
At the time, a Paxton aide described the incident as a misunderstanding.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Mark Banchereau The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
In the report, more than 35 former employees describe a workplace culture where intimidation, aggressive behavior and unpaid labor were the norm inside one of the world’s best restaurants.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 12 Mar. 2026
As the developers described the plan, residents began asking other questions, often interrupting.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
At the time, a Paxton aide described the incident as a misunderstanding.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
describe
verb
de·scribe
di-ˈskrīb 
described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
2
: to trace the outline of
describe a circle
describer
noun
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