narrate

American  

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

verb (used with object)

narrated, narrating

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)

narrated, narrating

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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Related Words

See describe.

Other Word Forms

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

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

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

Instead of making an argument, an algorithm will narrate its own process, relying on clunky signposts like “this article will explore” or “moreover” and “furthermore.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Giroux said, It is an attempt to discipline public memory by intimidating those who refuse to narrate the nation as innocent.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

In this sticker a concrete verb in the active voice and the use of the second person narrate a concrete event: if you do this, it can kill you.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

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