1
as in traces
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
as in describes
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
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3
as in characterizes
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 specifies
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defines
The agency defines poverty for a family of four as income below $31,000.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Establish Governance To Protect Employee Attention Establish a simple governance system that defines the purpose, cadence and target audience for each internal communications tool and ensure leadership consistently enforces and models the governance.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
That’s what defines these paths as careers and not just side hustles or gigs.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
The organization defines a mass shooting as one where four or more people are hit by gunfire, not including the shooter.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The project combines dark, gothic and fantastical elements, characteristic of the theatricality that defines both artists’ work.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
After twenty years of voicing a beloved cartoon capybara, a Black actor undergoes vocal surgery to escape the character that defines — and confines — her.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The study defines the sandwich generation as adults who have at least one child under 18 and a living parent—which is around one in four Americans.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Ferriss defines slow carbs differently than most other eating plans.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Establish Governance To Protect Employee Attention Establish a simple governance system that defines the purpose, cadence and target audience for each internal communications tool and ensure leadership consistently enforces and models the governance.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
That’s what defines these paths as careers and not just side hustles or gigs.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
The organization defines a mass shooting as one where four or more people are hit by gunfire, not including the shooter.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The project combines dark, gothic and fantastical elements, characteristic of the theatricality that defines both artists’ work.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
After twenty years of voicing a beloved cartoon capybara, a Black actor undergoes vocal surgery to escape the character that defines — and confines — her.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The study defines the sandwich generation as adults who have at least one child under 18 and a living parent—which is around one in four Americans.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Ferriss defines slow carbs differently than most other eating plans.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defines
Verb
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The program traces a path from Zehetmair’s contemporary turbulence back through the romantic reconciliation of Johannes Brahms’ last orchestral work to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final symphony.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
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Narrated by Lily Tomlin and based on Vito Russo’s landmark book, this classic 1995 documentary traces a century of LGBTQ+ representation on screen.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a study, the team describes how cooling a gas of radioactive atoms to temperatures colder than deep space could synchronize their radioactive decay.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The document describes workers becoming one with their fiery machines.—
Sonja Fritzsche,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Davey characterizes the Longbow strategy as flexible.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The title that has become attached to the painting over time curiously characterizes the Virgin Mary by the fruit, perhaps in recognition of her chastity, especially when considered in the context of Persephone’s myth.—
Demir Alp,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Each recipe is indicated by a code—O means the Four Roses distillery; B or E indicates the mashbill (B is 35 percent rye, E is 20 percent rye); S means straight whiskey; and the last letter specifies the yeast strain, each of which brings a different flavor profile to the whiskey.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
19 Aug. 2025
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Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac has useful analysis that specifies what happened when in recent years to help specify the release date.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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An asthma action plan is a form that outlines what to do when symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, fatigue or abdominal pain occur.—
Rhonda Conner-Warren,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Based on this experience, this article outlines four strategies for building regional hubs that create sustainable competitive advantages.—
Kevin Cushnie,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hamnet depicts a fictional account of Shakespeare's life with his young family; Buckley, 35, portrays the Bard's wife Agnes, while Watson plays Mescal's onscreen mother as Mary Shakespeare.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Also, why is arthouse pretty boy Louis Garrel, who portrays the leader of a resistance group known as Breakwalls (That’s seriously their name.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Specific Solutions The paper delineates specific solutions that collectively could swiftly enhance EU economic growth and international competitiveness.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
And, without needing to preach, Preparation for the Next Life delineates the limits of immigrants reaching for solidarity from white Americans who may be experiencing their own hardships, but who are never going to be in danger of being deported.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With technology growing by leaps and bounds every day, more and more tasks can be automated.—
Adam Coffey,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The duo begin a frantic game of hide-and-seek, with the rabbit running from one side of the tree to the other as the fawn bounds after it.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defines. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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