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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of define
With about one-fifth of the country occupied by Russian forces, defining NATO's mutual defense obligations presents a challenge.
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Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
This perhaps plays to Matthews’s 1962 conclusion: almost forty years after Breton’s first attempt to define the genre, members of the surrealist movement remained active, using any means to pursue their ends.
—Noor Anand Chawla, JSTOR Daily, 9 Dec. 2024
And, again, the scale of it will be defined by a much more limited budget.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
When asked to define modern luxury, Coin said luxury for different people means different things.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for define 
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
This perhaps plays to Matthews’s 1962 conclusion: almost forty years after Breton’s first attempt to define the genre, members of the surrealist movement remained active, using any means to pursue their ends.
—Noor Anand Chawla, JSTOR Daily, 9 Dec. 2024
And, again, the scale of it will be defined by a much more limited budget.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
When asked to define modern luxury, Coin said luxury for different people means different things.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for define
Recent Examples of Synonyms for define
Verb
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Experts have warned that ghost guns are particularly sought after by criminal organizations and right-wing extremists who want to easily access weapons that cannot be traced back to them, according to the Times.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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The sheer trend can be traced back to the ’70s and ’80s when Yves Saint Laurent and Halston showed subtle sheer looks, as did Marc Bohan for Dior.Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Al Haw described this isolation as being particularly painful.Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024
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Men ran off a porch, firing their own guns, as Givens described it to police and in an interview with the Journal Sentinel.John Diedrich, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Beautiful Art Deco buildings, characterized by their streamlined elegance and bold geometry, have enchanted cities worldwide for nearly a century.Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024
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Every object from Lindquist is made in their Rhode Island studio of artists and makers and is characterized by the timelessness and collaborative spirit of artisan craft.Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The agency did not specify exactly where the sightings along the 70-mile river were.Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
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Macy's did not specify which store locations would be closing.Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The design approach should follow traditional practices outlined by the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).Dewayne Hart, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Next year, Arizona transportation officials are hoping to move to the next planning phase as outlined by the Federal Railroad Administration.Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This condition can severely limit daily life, but with proper treatment, individuals can work toward managing their fear and improving their overall well-being.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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The issue is, US law severely limits how the US military can respond to these mysterious drones—even if the number of incidents has been growing for years.Jared Keller, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Even before Burke brought Glinda to movie theaters, though, L. Frank Baum’s original novels already portrayed Glinda with a (pink) glimmer of sapphism.Samantha Riedel, Them, 6 Dec. 2024
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Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck portray his children as adults, while Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Michael Caine and Topher Grace each appear along the way as well.Tommy McArdle, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That was an era which came to define the NBA for a period, but the narrative was one that often delineated along racial lines, by pitting a Black man and White man against each other.Johannes Sasay-Wada and Amanda Davies, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
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That would delineate potential ridership, revenue, number of trips, project costs and more.Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Define.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/define. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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