characterize

verb

char·​ac·​ter·​ize ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 

ˈka-rik-

characterized; characterizing

transitive verb

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

Synonyms

• character
• define
• depict
• describe
• portray
• represent

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

Then came the gravity-defying blow dry, characterized by swinging ends and reflective shine. —Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025

Read More: What Happened the Last Time Trump Withdrew From the Paris Agreement Trump also made a move to curtail offshore wind development, which the blueprint characterized as part of an agenda that would close off large sections of the ocean to commercial activity. —Nik Popli, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025

His work often explores bold, innovative concepts characterized by vivid colors and engaging visuals. —New York Times Games, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Fink’s optimistic outlook contrasts notably with the general market sentiment characterized by recent price declines. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids 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