outline
Americannoun
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outlines
plural
-
the line by which a figure or object is defined or bounded; contour.
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a drawing or sketch restricted to line without shading or modeling of form.
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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.
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outlines, the essential features or main aspects of something under discussion.
At the first meeting, we gave her only the outlines of the project.
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Printing. an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white.
verb (used with object)
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outlines,
present (3rd person singular)
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outlined,
past participle, past
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outlining
present participle
noun
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a preliminary or schematic plan, draft, account, etc
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(usually plural) the important features of an argument, theory, work, etc
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the line by which an object or figure is or appears to be bounded
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-
a drawing or manner of drawing consisting only of external lines
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( as modifier )
an outline map
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verb
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to draw or display the outline of
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to give the main features or general idea of
Synonym Usage
See form.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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outlinesimple
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outlinessimple
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have outlinedperfect
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has outlinedperfect
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am outliningprogressive
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are outliningprogressive
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is outliningprogressive
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have been outliningperfect progressive
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has been outliningperfect progressive
Past
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outlinedsimple
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had outlinedperfect
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was outliningprogressive
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were outliningprogressive
-
had been outliningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of outline
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.
Vocabulary lists containing outline
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Expository Writing, List 2
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Writing - Middle School
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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:
Also included is a proposal to create special vending zones in L.A.’s vending corridors, although the plan doesn’t outline where such opt-in zones could be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Both moves are in anticipation of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan to outline an “economic D-Day” for Iran this afternoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
But Ms. Cusk has really used Ms. Portman as a body double, borrowing from the outline of her career to produce a generalized study of megacelebrity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
If the discussion keeps going in circles, outline the objectives to keep people on message.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
An outline of the boot-shaped state pulsed on the thick paper, its sprawling cities and sleepy towns and rural outposts gleaming and glittering.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
The talks in Washington came after Prime Minister Mark Carney briefed Canada's regional leaders on the outlines of a pact to stabilize bilateral trade.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
The outlines of this story are familiar, but Ms. Rogoyska sees it anew through the Hotel Lutetia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
"We have carried out some geophysical surveys but the buildings have never been dug so their secrets remain hidden except for these rare moments when their outlines appear in the lawns," he added.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
On Tuesday, the BOE will publish its Asset Purchase Facility Quarterly Report, which outlines the bank’s stock of gilt holdings and the changes from April 1 to June 30.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
There could be no end to the questions, but the sketch outlines of answers were beginning to appear, and they were astonishing.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
The threat of U.S. tariffs — the Commerce Department has outlined a potential phased universal tariff on refined copper in 2027 and 2028 — also prompted traders to pull forward months of future supply.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Bonfig has outlined a number of plans aimed at propping up Best Buy’s business, like new medium- and small-format locations, a broader assortment and a focus on the company’s advertising business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outlined assessments from America’s intelligence apparatus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
It will run in parallel to the airport's planning process for a major expansion to its facilities which was first outlined last year.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Pet was walking beside him, one step for three of Redemption’s, its head outlined against the sea-blue sky.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
The Department of Homeland Security sent a memo to colleges and universities earlier this week outlining the policy shift.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
He appeared on Crooked Media and NPR and sat for Q&As with Ross Douthat, outlining his worldview for skeptical but receptive hosts.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026
A CPF is a mutually agreed plan between the bank and a client country outlining development priorities for a multi-year period.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
One state representative said this framework will essentially “define the corners of the football field” by outlining how large cuts should be based on reservoir levels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
You see, I refrain from outlining just what this gentleman has been saying to me - about you all.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
