outline

American  

[out-lahyn] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪn /

noun

1. the line by which a figure or object is defined or bounded; contour.

2. a drawing or sketch restricted to line without shading or modeling of form.

3. a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features, as of a book, subject, or project.

   an outline of medieval history; an outline of a speech.

   Synonyms:

   summary, synopsis, rough, draft, plan

4. outlines, the essential features or main aspects of something under discussion.

   At the first meeting, we gave her only the outlines of the project.

5. Printing. an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white.

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verb (used with object)

outlined, outlining

1. to draw the outline of, or draw in outline, as a figure or object.

   Synonyms:

   draft, delineate

2. to give an outline of; sketch the main features of.

   On the first day, the professor just outlined the course for us.

   Synonyms:

   draft, delineate

outline British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a preliminary or schematic plan, draft, account, etc

2. (usually plural) the important features of an argument, theory, work, etc

3. the line by which an object or figure is or appears to be bounded

4. 1. a drawing or manner of drawing consisting only of external lines

   2. ( as modifier )

      an outline map

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verb

1. to draw or display the outline of

2. to give the main features or general idea of

Related Words

See form.

Other Word Forms

• preoutline noun
• reoutline verb (used with object)
• well-outlined adjective

Etymology

Origin of outline

First recorded in 1655–65; out- + line ¹

Explanation

The gist, the essence, the major parts of something — that's its outline. The origins of outline come from the artistic practice of marking a line around the outer edge of a person or shape in a picture before filling it in. Only later, in the 1800s, did it come to be applied to verbal descriptions, too. Technically an outline suggests a condensed form of something, but as any high school or college student knows, course outlines have a habit of being pretty darn long. In 1919 H.G. Wells wrote a book called An Outline of History. Its length? 1,324 pages.

Example Sentences

Their findings outline a path forward, suggesting that with the right combination of strategies, Alzheimer's could eventually become a manageable or even preventable condition rather than an inevitable decline.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said thousands of struggling households will be ineligible "due to the narrow nature of this support" and called on the UK government to outline a broader package of help.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

“The inclusion of a maiden resource for West Dome Underground and extensions at Main Dome Underground outline exciting high-grade additions which can serve as a supplement to the base load low-grade open pit,” says Hissey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Consider asking for monthly or quarterly check-ins, where you clearly and specifically outline the tasks you executed and how you contributed to the success of certain projects.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

They had Worsley’s compass and an outline map of South Georgia that showed the coastline in detail and a complete blank in the interior of the island.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• blueprint
• draft
• drawing
• framework
• summary
• synopsis