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

Synonym Usage

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

I couldn’t dictate it beyond my initial outline thoughts, because I find that I can’t replicate my best writing voice while speaking into a phone or computer.

From Slate • May 24, 2026

To strengthen the future of its Maserati luxury brand, it will outline plans for two EVs in December.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

This discussion should not only outline your value outside the company, but also identify how you’ve been instrumental in helping your company meet its goals.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

I asked for an outline, but the overeager AI composed a full draft instead.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Above the door, the outline of the faded letters spelling Seed Vault have been removed.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

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