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.

Mr Jeffries encouraged people to pay attention to trends, as they were "defining factors" of a project and would help designs to stay remembered.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

This season, Roseberry continued to delve into the world of exaggerated proportions, staying true to the ironic touches that were defining elements of the house’s founder, Elsa Schiaparelli.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 3, 2023

But his remarks at his own feting were defining: In 17 seasons of owning the Nats, Lerner was the franchise’s unquestioned North Star — from which everything important emanated but almost nothing was heard.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2023

Nobody would have guessed this kind of success for him or El-P, and here they were, defining themselves in real time.

From New York Times • May 26, 2020

Continents, seas, islands, mountains, rivers, countries, were defining themselves out of a misty jumble of meaningless names.

From The Rise of David Levinsky by Cahan, Abraham