Definition of definenext
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

Relevance
2
as in to describe
to mark the limits of the river defines the town on the south

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of define Continue reading … JONATHAN TURLEY — France's free speech crackdown shows what happens when politicians define truth. — FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Ekta Kapoor Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms (India) More than three decades after co-founding Balaji, Kapoor remains one of Indian television’s defining hitmakers. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 The transition also became more clearly defined as researchers examined larger systems, suggesting the effect extended beyond small experimental circuits. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 Condor was founded in 1955, but is today defined by two key developments. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
  • Tan plans to trace those shifts through small moments, such as a family dinner, a conversation, a silence or the absence of something once there.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Its approach is not to reproduce traditional culture literally, but to trace specific cultural sources and translate them into contemporary experiences.
    — Li Jun, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Hey, the boss needs a favor In a November 2025 Reddit post, one person described buying $800 in Target gift cards on their second day at a new job after receiving an email impersonating their boss.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The illness is characterized by muscle rigidity in the torso, arms and legs.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Julie Theriot, a biophysicist at the University of Washington, cautioned that single-cell RNA sequencing is not the only or even the best way to characterize cell states.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • However, the agreement does not yet specify the humanoid model that will be used for the new logistics applications, the exact logistics tasks to be tested, the number of robots involved, or a timetable for routine deployment.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI shared a portion of its internal memo to employees, sent by its research leaders, with Fortune—presumably penned by Mark Chen, chief research officer, though the company did not specify.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Mann outlined the concept for the new show, which is coming out in the next couple of months.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The rules have also drawn reactions from travelers online after one guest shared a photo of the card outlining the hotel's policies.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The fences are required so that access is limited along the highway.
    — Lynn Kutter, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That move also let Apple Home work with more devices from more manufacturers (previously, it was limited to those willing to go through the often arduous HomeKit approval process).
    — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Also on Weekend Update, James Austin Johnson portrayed a selfish Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank investor who is backing a massive data center campus in northwest Utah.
    — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The patience required to piece them together paints Winehouse as an introspective woman as opposed to her party girl that the tabloids portrayed her as.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The new plan delineates rough land-use areas, not specific buildings or footprints.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The group story isn’t delineated with enough dramatic nuance.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!