describe

verb

de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
described; describing

transitive verb

1
: to represent or give an account of in words
describe a picture
The police asked her to describe the thief.
There were so many things he wanted to describeJames Joyce
2
: 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
5
archaic : observe, perceive
describable adjective
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Williams previously described the injury as a bone bruise on his heel, which made tasks as simple as walking painful. Lauren Merola, The Athletic, 3 Dec. 2024 Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle, a side sleeper, loves her Helix Midnight Luxe, describing it as plush, comfortable, and body-contouring. Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024 In other materials, the school’s creators describe themselves as attention activists. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024 Bah added that the government is investigating the incident, and will offer more details at a later time. Witnesses at the event — which was a tournament in honor of Guinea's military leader Mamady Doumbouya — described a terrifying ordeal in which small children were seriously injured. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for describe 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin describere, from de- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of describe was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near describe

Cite this Entry

“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

describe

verb
de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
described; describing
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
2
: to trace the outline of
describe a circle
describable adjective
describer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on describe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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