narrate

American  

[nar-eyt, na-reyt] / ˈnær eɪt, næˈreɪt /

verb (used with object)

narrates, present (3rd person singular) narrated, past participle, past narrating present participle

1. to give an account or tell the story of (events, experiences, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   recite, detail

2. to add a spoken commentary to (a film, television program, etc.).

   The Oscar-winning actor recently produced and narrated a new documentary on climate change.

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verb (used without object)

narrates, present (3rd person singular) narrated, past participle, past narrating present participle

1. to relate or recount events, experiences, etc., in speech or writing.

narrate British  

/ nəˈreɪt /

verb

1. to tell (a story); relate

2. to speak in accompaniment of (a film, television programme, etc)

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Synonym Usage

See describe.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• narrater
  noun
• narrator
  noun
• misnarrate
  verb
• narratable
  adjective
• unnarratable
  adjective
• unnarrated
  adjective
• well-narrated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• narrating
  present
• narrated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• narrate
  simple
• narrates
  simple
• have narrated
  perfect
• has narrated
  perfect
• am narrating
  progressive
• are narrating
  progressive
• is narrating
  progressive
• have been narrating
  perfect progressive
• has been narrating
  perfect progressive

Past

• narrated
  simple
• had narrated
  perfect
• was narrating
  progressive
• were narrating
  progressive
• had been narrating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will narrate
  simple
• will have narrated
  perfect
• will be narrating
  progressive
• will have been narrating
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

Narrate as you go, because your baby loves your voice and learns as you speak, which strengthens your connection.

From Washington Post • Mar. 23, 2022

Or, more fully: Narrate the circumstances of the first temptation of Jesus, and show wherein his virtue was particularly tried in that transaction.

From In the School-Room Chapters in the Philosophy of Education by Hart, John S. (John Seely)

Narrate the events leading up to the constitutional convention.

From History of the United States by Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin)

Narrate the circumstances under which the Tribunes were first elected.

From Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D. by Pennell, Robert Franklin

Narrate to me also, O Sanjaya, the battle of Arjuna with Ashvatthama, and of the other lords of the Earth with Partha.'

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

Related Words

• chronicle
• depict
• portray
• recite
• recount
• rehearse
• unfold