narrate

[nar-eyt, na-reyt]

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.

verb (used without object)

narrated, narrating 

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

narrate

/ nəˈreɪt /

verb

1. to tell (a story); relate

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of narrate¹

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; cognition ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of narrate¹

C17: from Latin narrāre to recount, from gnārus knowing

Synonym Study

See describe.

Example Sentences

The fifth novel by Kitamura is narrated by an actress who meets a man claiming to be her son, with overlapping narratives that blur the lines of the characters we play and reality.

From BBC

Taken aback by her boldness, Singh asked Roy to meet him the following day and narrate the idea in less than 10 minutes.

From BBC

At that point, we were with only a television, which narrates a short history of séances in America before instructing us to hold a pendulum over a spirit board.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was drunk the whole trip,” testified one of the women, Kim, who narrated to the jury how Poe went from teacher to mentor to abuser.

From Los Angeles Times

“She was crestfallen, but she recovered quickly,” Nuñez narrates dramatically as she drives away.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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