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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

“I helped define an experience for a group of people in the underground, I inadvertently helped to define an experience for a lot of people who feel othered and ostracized.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Fed doesn’t define exactly how many officials “several” is.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

"Further prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations and better define the safest blood pressure treatment strategies for patients with DKD," concluded Dr. Agur.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

A single game, even one as impressive as Saturday’s, doesn’t define a career.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

The term sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women, while gender refers to society’s constructed roles, expectations, behaviors, attitudes, and activities that it deems appropriate for men and women.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

“Run, Denise!” is the kind of unhelpful remark, delivered by Greg when his wife is already well aware that a T. rex is bearing down on her, that defines the dialogue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“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

The UK government defines a child as anyone under 18.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

In Seoul's affluent district of Gangnam, a severe heatwave has changed the currency of cool: access to air conditioning now defines the line between the haves and the have-nots.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

“Truly, without her I wouldn’t be the same person. I couldn’t possibly be. She defines me.”

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

Appalachia -- a region defined by the Appalachian Mountains that includes all of West Virginia and parts of a dozen other states -- is a major mining hub in the United States.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

“Her extraordinary career has been defined not only by excellence, but by the way she has led and lifted those around her.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

The application initially received a complaint from Chris Chadwick, due to the site being defined as a greenfield area.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

In their study entitled “Bubbles for Fama,” they used prior two-year returns to calculate the odds of a crash — defined as a drop of at least 40% over the subsequent two years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

“If I bought a credit default swap, my downside was defined and certain, and the upside was many multiples of it.”

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

"An overly dry spring and a heatwave in the second half of June were defining factors" leading to what the group described as a "below-average grain harvest" forecast at 41.9 million tonnes.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

The researchers used several methods to test whether the Saguaro's compact red center truly matched the defining characteristics of a typical LRD.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

He then invokes the term at least a dozen times before defining it—belief “in a Spiritual Law that exists apart from the physical world”—26 pages later.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Something new to listen to: Six years ago, indie rocker Phoebe Bridgers’ last solo album became one of the defining records of the decade.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

This wasn’t just about record-buying preferences, either: being a composer in the twentieth century meant making career- defining choices that simply were not relevant to earlier generations.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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