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Synonyms

define

American

[dih-fahyn] / dɪˈfaɪn /

verb (used with object)

to state or set forth the meaning of (a word, phrase, etc.).

They disagreed on how to define “liberal.”
to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of; describe.

to define judicial functions.
to fix or lay down clearly and definitely; specify distinctly.

to define one's responsibilities.

Synonyms:

enumerate, detail, describe, name, state
to determine or fix the boundaries or extent of.

to define property with stakes.
to make clear the outline or form of.

The roof was boldly defined against the sky.

verb (used without object)

to set forth the meaning of a word, phrase, etc.; construct a definition.

define British

/ dɪˈfaɪn /

verb

to state precisely the meaning of (words, terms, etc)
to describe the nature, properties, or essential qualities of
to determine the boundary or extent of
(often passive) to delineate the form or outline of

the shape of the tree was clearly defined by the light behind it
to fix with precision; specify

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of define

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English def(f)inen, from Anglo-French, Old French definer “to put an end to,” from Latin dēfīnīre ”to limit, define,“ equivalent to dē- “from, away from, out of” + fīnīre “to end”; see origin at de-, finish

Explanation

If you can't define a word, turn to the dictionary. That's always the best way to learn the definition. Likewise, anything you can describe completely is something you can define. The early French and Latin roots of the verb mean something closer to "to limit" or "to create a boundary," but this is really what we do when we define something: we limit its meaning to something specific. So when you're thinking about the word define, remember that you're looking to create a boundary of meaning around it, whether you're specifying the meaning of a word or a larger concept. To define a word such as astronomy is to define both the word and the realm of science that it's concerned with.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing define

The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 1

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

define defines defined defining

Popular formats can be added, she says, but they should not define the platform.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Before we go any further on Move 37, we should define it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

The policy does not define what those circumstances are.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

While he said “most” enrollees would be in that cohort, he didn’t define “most”—90%?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

But was what happened so long ago to my great-great-grandparents going to define me?

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

“Offering a generous 20-foot-wide footprint and spanning 5,000 square feet, this six-bedroom, six-bath residence defines timeless urban sophistication,” the listing crowed.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Its predicament speaks to the intense competition that defines the race for AI supremacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

The law defines "take" to mean "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct."

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

The band's album reflects the eclectic approach to songwriting that members say defines Renegade Zoo.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Then the effort to make good on that vow is what defines us as human beings.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

Take a look at the accompanying chart, which is based on the trailing five-year relative strength of midcap stocks, defined as the 40% of stocks in the middle of the market-cap distribution of U.S. stocks.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Much of his rule was defined by the civil war.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Installing Baka as president signals a "guarantee that the restoration of liberal democracy will proceed along a clearly defined path," Bulcsu Zsiga, from the Centre for Fair Political Analysis, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

“It could happen tonight. It could happen in a few days,” he said, his eyes once more on the yellow blocks that now defined the limit of his world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

While perhaps a more provincial cause, it had all the advantages of a more concerted and tightly focused political agenda in which each man played a clearly defined role.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Of course, when the dancers of the Los Angeles Ballet dress for rehearsal, they’re not concerned with defining a trendy aesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

His red card against Paris St-Germain in the 2024 Champions League quarter-finals became one of the defining moments of his Barcelona career, with his dismissal helping turn the tie in PSG's favour.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Those statistics are the defining characteristics that distinguish one quantum state from another.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

Still, Novo blowing its massive lead raises fresh questions about the ability of European companies to compete in key technologies defining the global economy, financial and economic analysts say.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

The engineers provided Hoover with long equations defining the relationships between wing shape and aerodynamic performance and instructed her to substitute into them other equations, formulas, and variables.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023