describe

verb

di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
Definition of describenext
1
as in to depict
to give a representation or account of in words he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tell
to give an oral or written account of in some detail a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of describe Activists have described the final agreement as a victory for Zambian independence and for the communities that rely on health funding. — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Someone who worked closely with me many years ago had described me as a bit like a submarine. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 The 15 à la carte dishes are described in spare language but use senior-seminar-level food geography terms. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 But by then, media have already described the encounter as an ejection. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
  1. depict
  2. tell
  3. characterize
  4. portray
  5. relate
  6. define
  7. illustrate
  8. recount
Verb
  • The Rock Art Trail is fun and educational, as is trying to identify what some of the animals depicted are.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Video posted on social media by activists accompanying pro-government factions depicted what was said to be the aftermath of attacks on Houthi positions along the Red Sea coast.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of depict
Verb
  • Katie does an excellent pivot and tells everyone that Jay also said Kriste was a Traitor.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But when Disney offered 13-year-old Jason Weaver $2 million to sing as young Simba in The Lion King—his mom told them no.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of bingeing followed by purging.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Company officials characterized the pace as methodical at the outset, followed by an aggressive push toward commercial licensing.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of characterize
Verb
  • The conductors who oversee the recording of the movie scores are portrayed as hyper-demanding corporate perfectionists.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Armour invoked the murder of Emmett Till while connecting the controversy to America’s history of White women portraying Black people as threats.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of portray
Verb
  • Asea was first arrested in April on stalking and computer-related allegations, but prosecutors dropped those charges in May before bringing a computer-access charge in September, court records show.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Police and prosecutors said Joshua Kerry, 28, had been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between May 2024 and July this year, saying that these related in part to Farage.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Many are calling for tougher measures — part of a broader rightward shift across Latin America, where security has become a defining political issue.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Abdy and De Luca represent a filmmaking approach that isn’t solely defined by sequels and CGI.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • More broadly, the expansion illustrates how advanced technology, industrial investment and acquisition reform are increasingly interconnected in modern defence planning.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • However, its premise also illustrates the very ideological hypocrisy that has alienated much of the public from the press.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • Romano recounts the toxicity of her past life as a child star in the book, while writing reflexively to her daughters in between chapters from her present position as a mother, wife, recovered alcoholic, and social-media influencer living in Texas.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Essayli called Fields’ claims false, including in response to a social media post Tuesday by Padilla recounting them.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of recount

Browse Nearby Words

descrambling
describe
described
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Cite this Entry

“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describe. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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