1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to specify
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of define
Although the gravity of a black hole is intense—that’s its defining characteristic—the force drops off rapidly with distance.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
The setting still reads like a scene from the film, from the dramatic approach over Biscayne Bay to the semicircular stainless steel and glass elevator that remains one of the home’s defining features, as seen in the clip below.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
Space is becoming home to critical infrastructure such as telecommunications satellites and Low Earth Orbit — which NASA defines as the stretch of space at an altitude of 2,000 km or less — attracted more than $45 billion worth of investment in 2025, up from $25 billion in 2024.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
In a state defined by elevation and aspiration, the 2025 Audi SQ5 feels like it was designed with our altitude-centric roads in mind.
—Chris Jackson, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for define
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
The setting still reads like a scene from the film, from the dramatic approach over Biscayne Bay to the semicircular stainless steel and glass elevator that remains one of the home’s defining features, as seen in the clip below.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
Space is becoming home to critical infrastructure such as telecommunications satellites and Low Earth Orbit — which NASA defines as the stretch of space at an altitude of 2,000 km or less — attracted more than $45 billion worth of investment in 2025, up from $25 billion in 2024.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
In a state defined by elevation and aspiration, the 2025 Audi SQ5 feels like it was designed with our altitude-centric roads in mind.
—Chris Jackson, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
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State Department officials trace the roots of the ongoing conflict back to the Islamic Revolution in 1979 that gave rise to the Islamic Republic of Iran.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
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Limon’s brother told the Times that by Sunday, investigators had traced the pair off campus.—
Dan Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Angels shortstop Zach Neto did precisely what Cora described.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Several days before the draft, McVay and Snead described their connection.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The manifesto characterized his targets as rapists and pedophiles.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Still, Yang did not characterize her work, primarily, as art.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One person was taken to a local hospital with injuries, according to Illinois State Police, who did not specify whether this person was in the truck or the car.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
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The commission also specifies that these tools must be made available free of charge.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors outlined the evidence against Hisham Abugharbieh in a motion for his pretrial detention, filed Saturday.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Anoe outlined the grant process at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 in Merrillville.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The band’s participation was limited to offscreen interviews.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply weakened a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act, a ruling that limits the consideration of race in drawing voting maps and could usher in Republican gains in the House.—
Justin Jouvenal,
Washington Post,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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However, director Antoine Fuqua made the conscious decision to use CGI to portray the chimpanzee.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the bike lane is sharply delineated with curbs, that will help a lot.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
30 Apr. 2026
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From 1875 to 1929 it was delineated by a simple circle outlined in chalk (hence the name), but today the circle is much more esteemed with presentation stands and roses planted in the shape of a horseshoe.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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