characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 
ˈka-rik-
characterized; characterizing
1
: to describe the character (see character entry 1 sense 1a) or quality of
characterizes him as ambitious
2
: to be a characteristic of : distinguish
an era characterized by greed
Examples of characterize in a Sentence
How would you characterize the situation?
I would characterize this as a positive change for our company.
She had difficulty characterizing their relationship.
His personality is hard to characterize.
Farms and large flat fields characterize most of the area.
the beliefs that characterized Europe in the 15th century
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time, pranks characterized America’s Halloween celebrations.
—
Chris Kenning, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Seventy-six percent characterized right-wing extremism as a major issue, while 32% said left-wing extremism is a top concern.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, strongly disputed the accusations, saying prosecutors characterized Rozier as a subject of their investigation and not a target.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Signature Neighborhoods feature a range of designs—from elegant townhomes to spacious one- and two-story residences—that reflect a contemporary Western aesthetic characterized by the generous use of stone, wood, and other natural materials in addition to open floor plans and spectacular views.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chris Kenning, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Seventy-six percent characterized right-wing extremism as a major issue, while 32% said left-wing extremism is a top concern.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, strongly disputed the accusations, saying prosecutors characterized Rozier as a subject of their investigation and not a target.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Signature Neighborhoods feature a range of designs—from elegant townhomes to spacious one- and two-story residences—that reflect a contemporary Western aesthetic characterized by the generous use of stone, wood, and other natural materials in addition to open floor plans and spectacular views.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈkar-ik-tə-ˌrīz
characterized; characterizing
1
: to point out the character of an individual or group : describe
characterize him as ambitious
2
: to be characteristic of
tragic endings characterized her stories
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share