describe

[dih-skrahyb]

verb (used with object)

described, describing 

1. to tell or depict in written or spoken words; give an account of.

   He described the accident very carefully.

   Synonyms: relate, tell, recount, represent, characterize, portray

2. to pronounce, as by a designating term, phrase, or the like; label.

   There are few people who may be described as geniuses.

3. to indicate; be a sign of; denote.

   Conceit, in many cases, describes a state of serious emotional insecurity.

4. to represent or delineate by a picture or figure.

5. Geometry.,  to draw or trace the outline of.

   to describe an arc.

describe

/ dɪˈskraɪb /

verb

1. to give an account or representation of in words

2. to pronounce or label

   he has been described as a genius

3. to draw a line or figure, such as a circle

Other Word Forms

• describer noun
• describable adjective
• describability noun
• describably adverb
• nondescribable adjective
• overdescribe verb (used with object)
• predescribe verb (used with object)
• redescribe verb (used with object)
• self-described adjective
• undescribable adjective
• undescribableness noun
• undescribably adverb
• undescribed adjective
• well-described adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of describe¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English describen, from Latin dēscrībere, equivalent to dē- de- + scrībere “to write”

Word History and Origins

Origin of describe¹

C15: from Latin dēscrībere to copy off, write out, delineate, from _de- + scrībere to write

Synonym Study

Describe, narrate agree in the idea of giving an account of something. To describe is to convey in words the appearance, nature, attributes, etc., of something. The word often implies vividness of personal observation: to describe a scene, an event. To narrate is to recount the occurrence of something, usually by giving the details of an event or events in the order of their happening. Narrate thus applies only to that which happens over time: to narrate an incident.

Example Sentences

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as rescuers pulled bodies from the rubble.

Read more on BBC

Some might want to describe what transpired at T-Mobile Park on Friday as an “instant classic.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As health leaders and advocates gather to discuss what they describe as a "stark" gender gap, calls are growing for urgent action to tackle the inequality.

Read more on BBC

J and B Engineering, Mr Lagan's employer, posted a tribute on social media which described him as a "valued colleague and friend".

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An eight-year-old girl who died following a medical episode at school has been described as a "perfect miracle".

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Related Words

• call 
• characterize 
• chronicle 
• construe 
• define 
• depict 
• detail 
• express 
• illustrate 
• interpret 
• label 
• name 
• outline 
• portray 
• recount 
• report 
• represent 
• specify 
• tell 
• term