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
Originally a mansion built in 1881, the 14-room boutique hotel feels like staying at your eccentric friend’s country home in the best way; splashy decor and mixed prints characterize the aesthetic, and many of the pieces are handmade or one-of-a-kind.
—
Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
While in orbit, Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Vibrant clarity, instant responsiveness, and unfettered mobility are the three fundamental concepts that characterize this experience rather than a list of elements.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Developer Arrowhead has characterized the game as a satire.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
While in orbit, Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Vibrant clarity, instant responsiveness, and unfettered mobility are the three fundamental concepts that characterize this experience rather than a list of elements.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Developer Arrowhead has characterized the game as a satire.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 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
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