describe

verb

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

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 How to pronounce describe (audio)
adjective
describer noun

Synonyms of describe

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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.
DeepMind's Demis Hassabis has similarly described a future that plays to that strategy. — Mackenzie Sigalos,drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 After talking to witnesses and using Flock cameras, police identified a suspect vehicle, described as a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck with a California vanity license plate. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 Homer also described the three as supporting Aphrodite, the goddess of love, after her birth. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Fertitta would later hint at concerns when describing to a local radio station why Houston opted against hiring the Alabama offensive coordinator. — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 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

Phrases Containing describe

Rhymes for describe

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Browse Nearby Words

describable
describe
describer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
-ˈskrī-bə-bəl How to pronounce describe (audio)
adjective
describer noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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