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.
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
5
archaic : observe, perceive
describable
di-ˈskrī-bə-bəl
adjective describer noun
Synonyms
- delineate
- depict
- draw
- image
- limn
- paint
- picture
- portray
- render
- set out
- sketch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Merchant category codes are four-digit codes that describe the retailer where a purchase is made, without detailing the specific item bought. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 Jalen Perry, whom coaches describe as one of U-M’s best special teams players, suffered an injury in the second half. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2022 At a Thursday hearing in Justice Court, Judge Elana Lee Graham denied Telles bail after hearing prosecutor Richard Scow describe the reporter as the victim of seven stab wounds. John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 Team officials also will describe their concept for an adjoining entertainment district to include restaurants, office space, a hotel, fitness center, new parks and open spaces. Robert Mccoppin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Demos, a nonprofit research organization focused on racial equity, offers an interesting framing to help describe the demographic shift in the working class. Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 The government could hardly describe the theory in its pleadings and appearances in fewer than 100 words. WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Police did not describe the circumstances of the incident but said officers were called to the 5700 block of North 95th Street at 9:30 p.m. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Leaders of the informal study and social groups will briefly describe their topics and activities planned for the year. Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 Jalen Perry, whom coaches describe as one of U-M’s best special teams players, suffered an injury in the second half. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2022 At a Thursday hearing in Justice Court, Judge Elana Lee Graham denied Telles bail after hearing prosecutor Richard Scow describe the reporter as the victim of seven stab wounds. John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 Team officials also will describe their concept for an adjoining entertainment district to include restaurants, office space, a hotel, fitness center, new parks and open spaces. Robert Mccoppin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Demos, a nonprofit research organization focused on racial equity, offers an interesting framing to help describe the demographic shift in the working class. Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 The government could hardly describe the theory in its pleadings and appearances in fewer than 100 words. WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Police did not describe the circumstances of the incident but said officers were called to the 5700 block of North 95th Street at 9:30 p.m. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Leaders of the informal study and social groups will briefly describe their topics and activities planned for the year. Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
describe
verb
de·scribe di-ˈskrīb
described; describing
1
: to write or tell about
Describe what you saw.
2
: to draw the outline of
First, describe a circle.
describe
verb
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- depict
- portray
- characterize
- illustrate
- define
- summarize
- paint
- render
- set out
- recount
- picture
- outline
- delineate
- represent
- relate
- tell
- sketch
- demonstrate
- suggest
- draw
- limn
- image
- show
- report
- narrate
- display
- qualify
- label
- recite
- exhibit
- trace
- hint
- redescribe
- vignette
- silhouette
- sum up
- rehearse
- draft
- touch off
- reimage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- distort
- misrepresent
- falsify
- color
- misstate
- twist
- pervert
- misdescribe
- warp
- garble
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
- tell
- chronicle
- relate
- narrate
- recount
- report
- depict
- set forth
- detail
- recite
- chart
- voice
- rehearse
- state
- reveal
- express
- disclose
- utter
- enumerate
- particularize
- divulge
- itemize
- expose
- delineate
- deliver
- give
- reel off
- render
- bare
- sketch
- let on (about)
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? Synonyms & Similar Words
- characterize
- define
- portray
- depict
- represent
- identify
- character
- classify
- type
- categorize
- indicate
- specify
- pigeonhole
- distinguish
- name
- mark
- color
- particularize
- individualize
- stamp