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:
Short sentences matter-of-factly describe objects in each room—a chair, a table, a lamp—but when the ghost from the cover reappears, its presence goes unremarked upon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
In the video, Tyler uses a Jaffa Cake as a prop to describe the different types of eclipse.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Just hearing him describe the importance of blocking as a receiver shows the effect having a coach as a father has had on him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The strategy you describe — claiming 50% of your spouse’s benefit at 62 and your own larger benefit at a later date — was largely eliminated by Congress in 2015.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
It is imperative that scientists learn how to describe their work to the larger world.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
The few vehicles scattered in the parking lot, I learned, belonged mostly to Bill Hays, who describes himself as a “car guy.”
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
Guardiola, of 10 years ago, perfectly describes the logic and strategy behind Maresca's current system, and one that still works.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The 39-year-old from Quincy, Mass., has been taking Pulmozyme off-label since October 2024 to help manage what she describes as “probably a very rare type of immunodeficiency.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
The reborn Chevy Metal still rehearses in what Woods describes as Taylor’s “man cave.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
And he describes the sphere of water as like a cloak or hood covering the earth.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
In a video watched 2.8 million times, a foreign reviewer described it as "kind of like chewy tofu" and "very oily".
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Brophy is described by the Missing in America Network as a seasoned hiker, runner and world traveler.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Hussein described the cancellation process as "near impossible"
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
During that time, he made a slew of enemies — from mob figures who accused him of fabricating evidence to fellow law enforcement officials who described him as a glory-seeking loose cannon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
It was even more horrifying than the ancient texts had described.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
One resident said four homes were destroyed by the fire, describing them as "completely gone".
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Eclipse watchers gathered on beaches, hilltops and parks to watch the Moon pass in front of the Sun on Wednesday, describing the rare event as "incredible".
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would later meet Ahmed in person, describing him as a "true Australian hero" and an inspiration to all.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Another speaker noted the inflammatory language used in the report seemed to justify the aggressive tactics by describing protesters as operating in “cells,” likening them to Al-Qaeda.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Now practice describing the expressive qualities of a song.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
