outline

[out-lahyn]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

1. to draw or display the outline of

2. to give the main features or general idea of

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of outline¹

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

Synonym Study

See form.

Example Sentences

This follows reports that the banking sector would be spared when Treasury chief Rachel Reeves outlines her plans for tax increases and spending changes on Wednesday, Interactive Investor’s Victoria Scholar says in a market comment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Camden Council highlighted Netley's leadership in a report published on 10 November that outlined the borough's vulnerability on school attendance.

Read more on BBC

Wilson and his team outlined a non-consensus outlook for 2026 in their strategy note last week and added more substance to the argument in their weekly report published Monday.

Read more on MarketWatch

In May, the two sides agreed an outline deal but negotiations are still taking place with implementation not expected until 2027.

Read more on BBC

The landlord told the tribunal that she had lost a letter from Greenwich Council which outlined updates to the council's licensing policy, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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