describe
Americanverb (used with object)
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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:
The wave function contains the information needed to describe the quantum system, but its size increases exponentially as more particles are added.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Commentating on the thrilling climax of this year's Open, there was barely a moment to describe the biggest putt of Ryan Fox's life because he struck it so quickly.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
While well regarded for his work ethic and expertise, Matsumoto’s former colleagues describe him as introverted and socially awkward—a potential challenge in a job that requires serving as the agency’s public face.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
DEL MAR — Umberto Rispoli waited nearly 11 months to ride Journalism again and then, well, let track announcer Larry Collmus describe it:
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Later, he would describe the chant as the “sad, imploring wail we’ve all got buried in our hearts—the sound of begging someone, anyone, to hear us.”
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Astronomers may eventually be able to search for signs of these violent stellar mergers, providing a way to test whether Fuller's model accurately describes the final stages of Sun-like stars.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
She describes a “popular annual cocktail buffet at the Hay Adams Hotel on the rooftop overlooking the White House” on the night of Trump’s UFC cage fight on the White House lawn.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
The 26-year-old describes it as "a somewhat silly promise" inspired by the sacrifices her non-English-speaking parents made to raise the family.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
But her loneliness seems largely self-imposed, perhaps compounded by what she describes as “a severe strain” of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Talking rapidly, Carl Phillips describes what he sees at the farm where the flaming object landed.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
Even so, they described the result as a previously unseen indication that psychedelics may produce lasting changes in the brain.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
The family described Barrios Ventura as a loving mother and said her absence was deeply felt by all who knew her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Former scrum-half Matt Dawson described England's discipline as "verging on comical" after their number of yellow cards for the year reached 14 in the chaotic 31-24 controversial win over Argentina.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
The move follows a yearlong investigation by U.S. trade officials into what they described as unfair trade practices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
One worker later described taking off his wedding ring before his shift because he feared it would be contaminated with radiation and have to be left behind.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
The difference is that he’s describing the U.K.’s white underclass.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he was "shocked and distressed" by the news of Widdecombe's death, describing her as a "woman of deep faith who devoted her life to public service".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Users on Udio can type prompts describing the type of song they wish to create.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Now, that same homestead has been put on the market, with the listing describing the 40-acre property as a “premium” dwelling that offers “a seamless blend of sophisticated architectural design and expansive Montana big-sky privacy.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
It's a compliment one rarely receives when describing an adolescence spent drinking Icees at the North Hills Mall.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
