1
as in traces
to draw or make apparent the outline of
she carefully outlined the tree before she started drawing in the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in summarizes
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
outlined the important points in the introduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in contours
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface
place your hand on the paper and draw an outline around it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in summaries
a short statement of the main points
a printed outline of the lecture has been made available for all attendees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outlines
Denni Hu, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
And the American health care system isn't set up to help people get through it, Mauldin outlines in the book, by way of inaccessible health care, lack of caregiver supports, expensive treatments and an overall de-valuing of sick people and those with disabilities.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The plan outlines $15 billion in transportation projects planned across Connecticut during the federal fiscal years 2026-30.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Decluttering expert Katy Wells outlines the top spaces that need attention and how to organize them.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
The measure outlines $450 million for large-scale recycling and reuse grants, $550 million for broader recycling programs, and $500 million for conveyance infrastructure upgrades, plus additional investments in other habitat and restoration activities.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
The Constitution lays out the powers of each branch of government and specifically outlines the war powers that Congress has, not the executive.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
To cut through the noise around what 2026 may hold—from Red Sea risks to mounting capacity and contract pressure—Sourcing Journal sat down with Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, who outlines where the ocean and air freight markets are headed and what matters most in the months ahead.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
And Williams outlines the benefits Ro has lent to her own life in the ad, noting that she’s lost 34 lbs since being on Ro’s GLP-1.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Single hearts and nail-bed outlines skew minimalist but instantly referential.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
The agreement’s outlines remain unclear, but potentially involve rights to Greenland’s minerals and increased NATO presence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After the stencil was created, it was changed to deliberately narrow the negative outlines of the fingers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of dropping someone into a full sketch right away, each lesson walks them from simple starting shapes to final outlines in a steady, predictable flow.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 12 outlines that ranked choice voting allows for voters to rank each candidate on a ballot for a particular office in an order of preference.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning the surrounding area, not just the stain, helps prevent outlines as the shoes dry.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
The nascent anti-smartphones movement in America is decidedly nonpartisan, for the most part, and this contributes to its potential and also to the vagueness of its outlines.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Through documentary works and material, the exhibition outlines the complex interplay between traditional Chinese philosophies and the new worldview forged by intelligent machines.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
And the American health care system isn't set up to help people get through it, Mauldin outlines in the book, by way of inaccessible health care, lack of caregiver supports, expensive treatments and an overall de-valuing of sick people and those with disabilities.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The plan outlines $15 billion in transportation projects planned across Connecticut during the federal fiscal years 2026-30.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Decluttering expert Katy Wells outlines the top spaces that need attention and how to organize them.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
The measure outlines $450 million for large-scale recycling and reuse grants, $550 million for broader recycling programs, and $500 million for conveyance infrastructure upgrades, plus additional investments in other habitat and restoration activities.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
The Constitution lays out the powers of each branch of government and specifically outlines the war powers that Congress has, not the executive.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
To cut through the noise around what 2026 may hold—from Red Sea risks to mounting capacity and contract pressure—Sourcing Journal sat down with Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, who outlines where the ocean and air freight markets are headed and what matters most in the months ahead.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
And Williams outlines the benefits Ro has lent to her own life in the ad, noting that she’s lost 34 lbs since being on Ro’s GLP-1.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Map drawers draft the outlines of these districts, as well as those for state senate and state house seats, city council districts, and county precincts, like in Galveston County.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Single hearts and nail-bed outlines skew minimalist but instantly referential.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
The agreement’s outlines remain unclear, but potentially involve rights to Greenland’s minerals and increased NATO presence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
After the stencil was created, it was changed to deliberately narrow the negative outlines of the fingers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of dropping someone into a full sketch right away, each lesson walks them from simple starting shapes to final outlines in a steady, predictable flow.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 12 outlines that ranked choice voting allows for voters to rank each candidate on a ballot for a particular office in an order of preference.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleaning the surrounding area, not just the stain, helps prevent outlines as the shoes dry.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
The nascent anti-smartphones movement in America is decidedly nonpartisan, for the most part, and this contributes to its potential and also to the vagueness of its outlines.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlines
Verb
-
The case traces back to April 2025, when the Justice Department initiated compliance reviews of Harvard’s undergraduate, law, and medical school admissions programs.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Shot in high-contrast black and white with obsessive attention to design, the film traces the unavoidable costs imposed on a family for the fleeting brush with artistic transcendence, however sporadic.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With this one line, Julian neatly summarizes the direction Volpe’s film is about to take.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Every month, the agent effectively proactively summarizes their performance to our point of contact.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bondi had a binder at the ready of stats and crime summaries ready to hurl at lawmakers during the contentious hearing, but members are unnerved that DOJ apparently tracked their searches to have at the ready.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The story summaries above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The legislation defines crimes such as bank robberies and the use of violence to dominate territories or economic activities, with sentences reaching up to 66 years.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That calculation, Israeli analysts say, defines the red line.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Joe Brusuelas, senior economist at RSM US, highlighted a few of those factors when pushing back on White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett’s claim Monday that subdued job gains are primarily the result of lower population figures and higher productivity.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Since the retail figures aren’t adjusted for inflation, weaker figures could be impacted by steep holiday discounts.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
With a vast vintage collection of Dior, Saint Laurent, and Versace, the dramatic but refined shapes abound, and Clooney always wears them with elegant ease.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Think classic straight-leg black trousers from stalwarts like Nili Lotan and Theory, or the slouchy wide-leg silhouettes that brands like Toteme have perfected.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
From cozy sweater dresses that feel comfortable enough for long travel days to polished maxi dresses that work for dinners and special occasions, winter-friendly silhouettes make getting dressed on the road refreshingly easy.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlines. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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