narrate

verb

nar·​rate ˈner-ˌāt 

ˈna-ˌrat,

na-ˈrāt 

narrated; narrating

transitive verb

: to tell (a story) in detail

The children enjoyed the lively manner with which she narrated her life's story.

also : to provide spoken commentary for (something, such as a movie or television show)

The documentary is narrated by a famous actor.

narrator

ˈner-ˌā-tər 

ˈna-ˌrā-

na-ˈrā-

nə-;

ˈner-ə-

ˈna-rə-

noun

Synonyms

• chart
• chronicle
• describe
• recite
• recount
• rehearse
• relate
• report
• tell

Examples of narrate in a Sentence

The author narrates her story in great detail.

a documentary narrated by a famous actor

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, Balcer wrote, co-directed and produced several documentaries, including 2017’s Above the Drowning Sea, narrated by Julianna Margulies and Tony Goldwyn, which told the epic story of thousands of Austrian Jews who escaped the Holocaust and found refuge in Shanghai. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

Her titular character, Meredith Grey, still narrates episodes, and Pompeo serves as an executive producer. —Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025

Over a simple club beat and some brassy horns on the chorus, the rapper narrates a particularly wild night out, all while still maintaining his status as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2025

This tireless need for people to narrate their lives, Lilian thought, half listening, half sunk in amused despair. —Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin narratus, past participle of narrare, from Latin gnarus knowing; akin to Latin gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for narrate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

narrate

verb

nar·​rate ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt  na-ˈrāt 

narrated; narrating

: relate sense 1, tell

narrate a story

narrator

ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt-ər 

na-ˈrāt-

nə-;

ˈnar-ət-

noun