narrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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narrates,
present (3rd person singular)
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narrated,
past participle, past
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narrating
present participle
verb (used without object)
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narrates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
narrated,
past participle, past
-
narrating
present participle
verb
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to tell (a story); relate
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to speak in accompaniment of (a film, television programme, etc)
Synonym Usage
See describe.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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narraternoun
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narratornoun
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misnarrateverb
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narratableadjective
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unnarratableadjective
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unnarratedadjective
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well-narratedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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narratesimple
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narratessimple
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have narratedperfect
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has narratedperfect
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am narratingprogressive
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are narratingprogressive
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is narratingprogressive
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have been narratingperfect progressive
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has been narratingperfect progressive
Past
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narratedsimple
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had narratedperfect
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was narratingprogressive
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were narratingprogressive
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had been narratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of narrate
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin narrātus (past participle of narrāre ”to relate, tell, say”), equivalent to nār(us) “knowing, acquainted with” (variant of gnārus; see cognition) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you tell a story or describe something out loud, you narrate. You might hire a well-known actor to narrate your documentary film about circus elephants. One way to narrate is to comment on or describe visual images — photographs or scenes in a film, for example. You can also narrate a story simply by relaying the details aloud. In books, a character sometimes narrates the story as well. It appears that narration, or the action of telling a story, came before narrate, from the Latin root narrare, "to tell, relate, or recount," or literally, "to make acquainted with."
Vocabulary lists containing narrate
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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:
After talking it through with her family and editor Elizabeth Méndez Berry, she warmed to the idea, realizing that the book didn’t have to just focus on her, that biography could also narrate community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Since first emerging online in 2019 on the online bulletin board 4chan, the Backrooms phenomenon has expanded across Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and gaming platforms, where users collectively map, narrate and extend its mythology.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
As the concert began to draw to a close, the BBC announced that Sir David will soon narrate another new natural history series, Blue Planet III.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid thinks sometimes movies can change history; other times they simply narrate it.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
I need not narrate in detail the further struggles I had, and arguments I used, to get matters regarding the legacy settled as I wished.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Until the 1993 introduction of Addy Walker, a black doll whose first book narrates the character’s escape from slavery, all of the dolls were white and came with stories of well-off households.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
In Rent, Matarazzo plays struggling film-maker Mark, who chronicles and narrates the lives of his friends.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The broadcaster, who turned 100 earlier this year, narrates the new six-part series exploring the darkest depths of the world's oceans, produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The centerpiece is the three minutes where Travis calmly narrates the plane crash interspersed with him drumming, amid flames, in a way that captures each emotional beat of what he went through.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
An Elder’s voice narrates, words in Tsalagi and talk of consequences.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
But through journal entries from that time, narrated in the film by Diane Lane, the audience can piece together where the fear and the pride meet.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
As the AI spools out its logic, step by step, this narrated sequence gives users reassurance that the AI is marching in an orderly fashion from one verifiable conclusion to the next.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
But the tale of that Thursday’s spontaneous, viral resistance is narrated by its proud participants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Tsuda's legal team argued the account only gained traction because "its dubious, sordid content was narrated by the attractive voice of a popular actor".
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
I narrated its events, not stinting Pro Bono’s actions therein.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
“What would my cancer say if it was narrating its memoirs?” he says, going into a childlike speech impediment: “ ‘Woke up somewhat bigger than yesterday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
At a launch event on Tuesday, Sir David said: "When I narrated the first Blue Planet series, it didn't occur to me that I would be narrating a third series in my centennial year."
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Smith makes treats like Skittles, gummy bears and pasta festooned with marigold petals, narrating each step in a baby-soft voice while wearing dreamy fits.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
Episode 2 opens with Rachel narrating their trip to Boston, “where American history helped shape the nation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
He was narrating the whole time, I think, but I couldn’t hear a thing besides the blood rushing in my ears.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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