di·a·gram
ˈdī-ə-ˌgram 
1
: a graphic design that explains rather than represents
especially
: a drawing that shows arrangement and relations (as of parts)
2
: a line drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes
diagrammed or diagramed
ˈdī-ə-ˌgramd
; diagramming or diagraming
ˈdī-ə-ˌgra-miŋ
; diagramming or diagraming
ˈdī-ə-ˌgra-miŋ
: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagram a football play
Synonyms
Examples of diagram in a Sentence
Noun
a diagram of the nervous system
This diagram shows how the clock operates.
Verb
The coach diagrammed the new play on the blackboard.
The students were required to diagram a sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Here's a diagram: Courtesy of Rhett Allain Now there are two paths for the light from the source to make it to the screen.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
There are over 250,000 shapes to choose from in the software's core library and via web content, with a refined process for making standard visualizations like org charts, flow charts, and network diagrams.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 16 Mar. 2024
Imbrie’s argument doesn’t depend on any specific level of ruggedness in the landscape, so the recent revisions to the MBL phase diagram in no way undermine it.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The book is heavily illustrated, primarily featuring character drawings, inventions and diagrams that McKinnon drafted and illustrator Alfredo Cáceres fine-tuned in his signature gothic style.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024
Applicants must submit photos of their burrow, the overall tortoise enclosure, shade areas, placement of a water dish and access to food and a diagram of the enclosure with dimensions.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
Visio Pro also connects to your other Microsoft data sources, such as Excel, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Power BI, to pull data sets and automatically generate or update diagrams.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
As illustrated by this simplified diagram of the human metabolome (where lines indicate chemical reactions and dots indicate reactants or products), your metabolic network is incredibly complex.
—Travis Nemkov, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Nevada called timeout and diagrammed a play for 6-foot-6 guard Kenan Blackshear to back down his defender in the lane and shoot a fade-away jumper.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024
As the production team showed the replay of Solomon’s grab, Madden drew over a freeze-frame of the play, diagramming how Solomon sprung open.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024
Psychologists may claim to know, but there are no human feelings that can be easily diagrammed.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024
With its 228 optical sensors, the observatory at Lake Baikal (diagrammed at left) looks for the debris created when a neutrino collides with a hydrogen or oxygen nucleus in the water: a shower of new particles that triggers a cone of bluish light.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
Coach Brian Dutcher had diagrammed a play for Micah Parrish that didn’t work, and the ball was inbounded to Aguek Arop instead.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2023
Opening the section is a tile from 17th-century Iznik, a major Ottoman ceramics center, that diagrams the Great Mosque in Mecca, with the Kaaba at its center.
—Vanessa H. Larson, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2023
Bridges even diagrammed specific military maneuvers to help ISIS kill the most U.S. troops.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 June 2023
Noun
Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, presented a diagram showing the dam’s eight large tubes, called penstocks, that water normally passes through, as well as the smaller outlet pipes that enable water releases at low reservoir levels.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Here's a diagram: Courtesy of Rhett Allain Now there are two paths for the light from the source to make it to the screen.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
There are over 250,000 shapes to choose from in the software's core library and via web content, with a refined process for making standard visualizations like org charts, flow charts, and network diagrams.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 16 Mar. 2024
Imbrie’s argument doesn’t depend on any specific level of ruggedness in the landscape, so the recent revisions to the MBL phase diagram in no way undermine it.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The book is heavily illustrated, primarily featuring character drawings, inventions and diagrams that McKinnon drafted and illustrator Alfredo Cáceres fine-tuned in his signature gothic style.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024
Applicants must submit photos of their burrow, the overall tortoise enclosure, shade areas, placement of a water dish and access to food and a diagram of the enclosure with dimensions.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
Visio Pro also connects to your other Microsoft data sources, such as Excel, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Power BI, to pull data sets and automatically generate or update diagrams.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
As illustrated by this simplified diagram of the human metabolome (where lines indicate chemical reactions and dots indicate reactants or products), your metabolic network is incredibly complex.
—Travis Nemkov, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
In most classical schools, phonics reign, and students learn grammar by diagramming sentences.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Nevada called timeout and diagrammed a play for 6-foot-6 guard Kenan Blackshear to back down his defender in the lane and shoot a fade-away jumper.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024
As the production team showed the replay of Solomon’s grab, Madden drew over a freeze-frame of the play, diagramming how Solomon sprung open.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024
Psychologists may claim to know, but there are no human feelings that can be easily diagrammed.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024
With its 228 optical sensors, the observatory at Lake Baikal (diagrammed at left) looks for the debris created when a neutrino collides with a hydrogen or oxygen nucleus in the water: a shower of new particles that triggers a cone of bluish light.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
Coach Brian Dutcher had diagrammed a play for Micah Parrish that didn’t work, and the ball was inbounded to Aguek Arop instead.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2023
Opening the section is a tile from 17th-century Iznik, a major Ottoman ceramics center, that diagrams the Great Mosque in Mecca, with the Kaaba at its center.
—Vanessa H. Larson, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2023
Bridges even diagrammed specific military maneuvers to help ISIS kill the most U.S. troops.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diagram.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near diagram
Cite this Entry
“Diagram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagram. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diagram
1 of 2 noun
di·a·gram
ˈdī-ə-ˌgram
: a drawing, sketch, plan, or chart that makes something clearer or easier to understand
diagram
2 of 2 verb
diagrammed or diagramed
-ˌgramd
; diagramming or diagraming
-ˌgram-iŋ
: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagrammed a football play
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share