How to Use outline in a Sentence

outline

1 of 2 noun
  • The leaves etched into the vase have a gold outline.
  • The pictures were drawn in outline and then filled in with color.
  • Her speech was written in outline on note cards.
  • Organize your essay by writing an outline in which you state your main idea followed by your supporting points.
  • View the outline of that process here.
    — CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
  • There wasn’t a full script, there was an outline.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026
  • And just give me an outline of what these people did.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Arrange them in the outline of a leaf and hot-glue in place.
    — Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Then, add the outline of a heart within the shape.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The book outline sits untouched for months.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 May 2026
  • By then, the broad outlines of a deal to release the hostages were in sight.
    — Jonathan Alter, The New Republic, 3 May 2023
  • If the sun is out, its brightness can help you to see the outline of the clouds.
    — Noel Kirkpatrick, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
  • There was a lot of back and forth and a lot of outlines and even a lot of screenplays.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The boot takes its name from its unique arched sole, which features a bridge-like outline.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 30 Dec. 2025
  • The dots grow and turn a brownish-gray color with red outlines.
    — oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
  • The outline of a grave was already scored into the ground.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • With your outlines in front of you, mark the top of the big toe and the bottom of your heel.
    — Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Unlike the green outlines, the petals seemed to have been colored in by hand.
    — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
  • Soon, the outline of the Milky Way could be seen by the naked eye.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Here's a brief outline for this recipe, with the full recipe further below.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023
  • The movie had a star-less press tour and premiere given the strike's outlines.
    — Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
  • Next, mark the garden's outline with string or marking paint.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
  • Lay the card flat, and using a needle, poke holes around the outline of the heart.
    — Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
  • He will be remembered; her outline will fade.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Transfer one word per pumpkin, and use black acrylic or crafts paint to fill in the outline.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Transfer one word per pumpkin, and use black acrylic or crafts paint to fill in the outline.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Doors manifest out of a chalk outline.
    — ABC News, 13 May 2026
  • But the people who showed up to the courthouse helped cast an outline around the scope of its work.
    — Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
  • No one except Cézanne would have seen its outlines as heroic.
    — Adam Gopnik, Town & Country, 5 Mar. 2023
  • Herd is currently laying out the outline of the flag on the ground.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026

outline

2 of 2 verb
  • The book outlines the major events of the country's history.
  • All players must follow the rules outlined above.
  • The President outlined his agenda for the next term.
  • Krueger outlined the trade-offs.
    — Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The width of the fleet’s seats are outlined here.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Here are five goals outlined in the report.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • None of my novels have been outlined.
    — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
  • The sums outlined above also do not show the full picture.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Trump last week outlined five goals for the massive air campaign.
    — ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • City officials have yet to outline how that might work.
    — Claire Wang, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Full details of the plan are outlined on the city’s new spring break website.
    — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Grab an old garden hose and some stakes, and outline the shape for a new garden bed.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Hilton’s lips were outlined in a brown pencil and filled in with a matte nude shade.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The lapels were dramatic, large and outlined in white.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Patil outlined her reasons for backing the project.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The master plan doesn’t outline any way forward.
    — Patrick George, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Watching out for the warning signs outlined below is a good place to start.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • In all, the sergeant outlined two dozen other reports that could also be changed.
    — Jenny Gathright, Washington Post, 8 May 2026
  • This piece outlines the key steps leaders can take to keep pace in the AI age.
    — Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Also outline the next review point.
    — Fazila Shahid, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Here Baum outlines her top care tips for keeping your lawn in top shape all season long.
    — Patricia Shannon, The Spruce, 19 May 2026
  • The Post also did not outline its finances.
    — David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
  • That outlines Andromeda, the princess, who’s hitched to the rear end of the horse.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The blazer featured two wide lapels outlined in a whip stitch and stacked pocket flaps on each side of body.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 June 2026
  • That outlines the mighty wings of Pegasus.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Your rights are outlined on the DOT website, at least for now.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The group outlined big plans for its new holdings in a news release Thursday.
    — Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Trusts also outline how your estate should be managed after your death — just like a will.
    — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The company outlined the new tools on a new webpage about child safety.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The full process is outlined on CBP's website.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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