describe
Americanverb (used with object)
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describes,
present (3rd person singular)
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described,
past participle, past
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describing
present participle
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to tell or depict in written or spoken words; give an account of.
He described the accident very carefully.
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to pronounce, as by a designating term, phrase, or the like; label.
There are few people who may be described as geniuses.
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to indicate; be a sign of; denote.
Conceit, in many cases, describes a state of serious emotional insecurity.
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to represent or delineate by a picture or figure.
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Geometry. to draw or trace the outline of.
to describe an arc.
verb
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to give an account or representation of in words
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to pronounce or label
he has been described as a genius
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to draw a line or figure, such as a circle
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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describabilitynoun
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describernoun
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undescribablenessnoun
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overdescribeverb (used with object)
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predescribeverb (used with object)
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redescribeverb (used with object)
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describableadjective
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nondescribableadjective
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self-describedadjective
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undescribableadjective
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undescribedadjective
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well-describedadjective
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describablyadverb
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undescribablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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describesimple
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describessimple
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have describedperfect
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has describedperfect
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am describingprogressive
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are describingprogressive
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is describingprogressive
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have been describingperfect progressive
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has been describingperfect progressive
Past
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describedsimple
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had describedperfect
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was describingprogressive
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were describingprogressive
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had been describingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of describe
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English describen, from Latin dēscrībere, equivalent to dē- de- + scrībere “to write”
Explanation
To describe is to report details about something either out loud or in writing. "Since we can't come to Paris with you, please describe it in your letter!" Describe is from the Latin word describere which means "to write down." When you describe something, you're "da" scribe, the person writing things down! Writing teachers love to have students describe, using lots of details using the five senses and figurative language. It doesn't have to be written down, though — you can also describe that gold dress you saw to your friend on the phone. Or you can describe a circle, by sketching it out with a stick in the sand.
Vocabulary lists containing describe
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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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:
As cisgender, straight women, the community they describe both includes and extends beyond their own identities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
Disaffection has often driven down past turnout among Arab Israelis - who account for about a fifth of the population and often describe themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
This allowed researchers to compare reports even when different people used different words to describe similar experiences.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026
They describe its conservation outlook as "far from optimistic."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
If I had to pick an animal to describe Lisa-Marie Anne, it would be a bird.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
The Mop Up Michigan coalition describes the initiative as a step to promote campaign-finance transparency and prevent corruption.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
He describes his approach to the city’s homeless crisis as one of “compassionate accountability.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Callum describes "constant delays" in his attempts to reach out to Curo and negotiate.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
He describes a vision for collaboration between the two organizations but comes off a bit more matter-of-fact than the MYD folks.
From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2026
Evolution describes nature’s past: How did living things arise?
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Independent cancer experts described the results as impressive but said longer-term studies were still needed to establish whether the treatment really helps most patients live longer, on average.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Jordanian King Abdullah II described the shooting as a terrorist attack and promised the harshest retaliation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Insider Gaming called it "the best campaign ever created", while Eurogamer Germany described it as "a true action blockbuster", despite a "weak storyline".
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Erik Won, DO, the company's chief medical officer, described the results as a major advance over previously reported medication outcomes.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
And I pictured Keli the way he had described Dodzi’s crush, a girl they’d called Dzifa the Divine.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Mr. Wegman devotes great effort to describing how Wilson’s ideas were informed by the Scottish Enlightenment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
But Snee denied the company could have managed the costs better, describing the situation as a "perfect storm".
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
"I think for a public figure that puts Jews' safety at great risk," he added, describing himself as socially moderate and religiously conservative in his expansive home nestled among vibrant fall foliage.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026
“I’ve been after that spatial relationship,” Hodges said, describing dub as a “dance of what is absent.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Why didn’t I take more time describing the water butterflies to Javier?
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
