1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study
b
: a tentative draft (as for a literary work)
2
: a brief description (as of a person) or outline
3
a
: a short literary composition somewhat resembling the short story and the essay but intentionally slight in treatment, discursive in style, and familiar in tone
b
: a short instrumental composition usually for piano
c
: a slight theatrical piece having a single scene
especially
: a comic variety act
sketched; sketching; sketches
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
sketch·er
ˈskechə(r)
plural -s
1
: one that sketches
specifically
: one that sketches designs for stage sets
2
Examples of sketch in a Sentence
Noun (1)
He made a sketch of his house.
He wrote up a sketch of the plot.
There is a biographical sketch of the author on the book's back cover.
Verb
He sketched the trees outside his window.
He likes to sit outside and sketch.
She sketched the plan for us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Obsession also stars Barker’s That’s a Bad Idea YouTube sketch and Milk & Serial film collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, as well as Megan Lawless and Andy Richter.
—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2026
Designers have already sketched their answers for WWD, imagining everything from grand couture ballgowns to more unexpected takes on the singer’s bridal era.
—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for sketch
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.
Noun
Jerry Seinfeld joins David in a Lewis and Clark sketch; Bill Hader and Kathryn Hahn play Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln; Jon Hamm and Sean Hayes the Wright Brothers, and so on.
—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Obsession also stars Barker’s That’s a Bad Idea YouTube sketch and Milk & Serial film collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, as well as Megan Lawless and Andy Richter.
—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Verb
If travel or study calls, sketch the first steps and request time to explore them.
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2026
Designers have already sketched their answers for WWD, imagining everything from grand couture ballgowns to more unexpected takes on the singer’s bridal era.
—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for sketch
Cite this Entry
“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sketch
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene
b
: a rough draft (as of a story)
2
: a brief description or outline
3
: a short comedy piece
sketch
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
