Synonyms for describe
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
Definitions
- v. 1
To represent in words.
The geographer describes countries and cities.
- v. 2
To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out.
to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle
- v. 3
To give rise to a geometrical structure.
The function describes a very complex surface.
Related words
- Word family
- describability describable description descriptive descriptivist descriptor
- Is a kind of
- speak write
Forms
- Past participle
- described
e.g. described → delineated, characterized, defined, identified…
Example sentences
- identify They were able to identify him by his wrist watch.
- define "Why can't you just be normal?" "Define 'normal'."
- characterize How would you characterize the economy right now?
- delineate In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border.
- explain Explain to him the difficult situation you are in.
- relate I see no reason why he doesn't relate to the firm.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| describe | rising | |
| identify | rising | |
| define | rising | |
| characterize | rising | |
| delineate | steady | |
| explain | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- key1
- 4 letters
- name1, tell1, line1, draw1
- 5 letters
- state1, paint1, trace1
- 6 letters
- report2, detail2, define2, relate2, depict2, betell
- 7 letters
- account2, picture2, explain2, express2, portray2, narrate2, bewrite
- 8 letters
- identify4, discover3, rehearse2
- 9 letters
- represent3, chronicle3, designate3, delineate4, depicture
- 11 letters
- distinguish3
- 12 letters
- characterize4, characterise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (report2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- décrire
- Italiano
- descrivere
- Español
- describir
- Deutsch
- beschreiben
- Català
- descriure