describe

verb

de·​scribe di-ˈskrīb 

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.

The article describes how the experiment was done.

There were so many things he wanted to describe …

—James 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

di-ˈskrī-bə-bəl 

adjective

describer noun

Synonyms of describe

• depict
• portray
• characterize
• illustrate

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

Coinbase has also been expanding overseas, establishing presence in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, which Armstrong described as its Asia hub. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

The event cast Democrats as too left wing, describing them as communists, anti-American or even evil. — Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

Amendment is so essential to the American constitutional tradition, so methodical and so entire a conception of endurance through adaptation, that it can best be described as a philosophy. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Calvo has described the library and museum project as an investment in Hialeah’s future and its identity as a major city. — Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing describe

• can't even begin to describe

Rhymes for describe

• ascribe
• imbibe
• inscribe
• prescribe
• proscribe
• subscribe
• transcribe
• bribe
• gibe
• jibe
• tribe
• vibe

Kids 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

describable

-ˈskrī-bə-bəl 

adjective

describer noun