easy
Describe the puppy using three clear details.
What does Describe mean?
Describe means to tell what someone or something is like or to give an account of what happened.
Dictionary definition
To describe is to say or write what a person, thing, event, or experience is like, or to report what happened. In formal geometry, a moving point or tool can describe a line or shape by tracing it. In biology, scientists describe a species by formally identifying, characterizing, and naming it.
Example sentences
Describe in a sentence
medium
Mina described how the kite became caught in the tree.
medium
The witness described the bicycle as bright green.
hard
The compass point describes a circle around the center.
hard
Researchers described and named the newly recognized frog species.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice describe in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Describe
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does describe mean in “Describe the shell so I can identify it” ?
Describe asks for details about appearance or qualities.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses the formal geometry meaning of describe?
In formal geometry, describe can mean trace a line or shape through movement.
Practice 3
Choose the best word: First ____ what the machine looks like; then explain why it stopped.
Describe gives observable details, while explain gives reasons or causes.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Describe
Voice settings
Sounds like
dih · skryb · strongest beat: skryb
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordDescribe.
Partverb.
MeaningDescribe means to tell what someone or something is like or to give an account of what happened.
ExampleExample: Describe the puppy using three clear details.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- dih · skryb
- Strongest beat
- skryb
- Ending
- skryb
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on skryb.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Describe
portrayClose when describe means to represent someone or something in words or images.
depictClose for representing features, especially in words or pictures.
reportClose when describe means to give an account of what happened or what was observed.
characterizeClose when describing the typical or distinctive qualities of someone or something.
traceClose only in the formal geometry sense of moving along a line or shape.
Antonym review
Does Describe have an opposite?
Describe has no single direct opposite across ordinary reporting, formal geometry, and biological naming. Omit and misrepresent describe failures or contrasts in particular contexts, not true opposites.
Synonym practice
Want to practice describe synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "Please describe the animal in three words," then compare close word choices. Practice describe synonyms.
Word family
Describe word family
Base word
describe
verb
describes
The present-tense form used with he, she, or it.
verb
described
Told what something was like or gave an account in the past.
verb
describing
Giving details about someone or something now.
noun
description
An account of what someone or something is like.
adjective
descriptive
Using details to help someone understand or picture something.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Describe
Hint for students
Use observable or remembered details to tell what someone, something, or an event is like.
Common mix-up
Describe, define, and explain are related but different. Describe gives qualities or details, define states meaning, and explain shows how or why something happens.
Try it in class or at home
Place an object in a bag. One student describes its shape, texture, and parts without naming it; classmates identify it and underline the details that helped most.
Teacher prompt
Compare describe, define, and explain. What would each instruction ask you to do with the word evaporation?
Word Wheel
Practice with the School Words Wheel
This word is part of WordHive's researched School Words collection. Spin the complete wheel to review meanings, discuss classroom connections, and practice using school vocabulary in sentences.
Learning activities
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Sentence Builder
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Explore · Context
Context Clue Challenge
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Synonym Search
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