sketch

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study
b
: a tentative draft (as for a literary work)
2
: a brief description (as of a person) or outline
3
a
: a short literary composition somewhat resembling the short story and the essay but intentionally slight in treatment, discursive in style, and familiar in tone
b
: a short instrumental composition usually for piano
c
: a slight theatrical piece having a single scene
especially : a comic variety act

sketch

2 of 2

verb

sketched; sketching; sketches

transitive verb

: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of

intransitive verb

: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher noun

Examples of sketch in a Sentence

Noun He made a sketch of his house. He wrote up a sketch of the plot. There is a biographical sketch of the author on the book's back cover. Verb He sketched the trees outside his window. He likes to sit outside and sketch. She sketched the plan for us.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
In a new interview, Johansson reflected on the dirty joke Che wrote for her significant other to read on the NBC late-night sketch show. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025 What comes across here even more than Gaga’s talent is her sincerity, an ideal tonal match for a series of pretty strange (compliment) sketches. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
Deloria sketches a history of museums in the West—stretching from the curiosity cabinets of four centuries ago to the rise of tribal museums today. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2025 The family dynamic is deftly sketched as Maddie takes in details from Alice and shoots back instructions, ignoring Frank’s alarmed requests to know what’s going on. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sketch

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch schets, from Italian schizzo, literally, splash, from schizzare to splash, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1694, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sketch was in 1668

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

sketch

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene
b
: a rough draft (as of a story)
2
: a brief description or outline
3
: a short comedy piece

sketch

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sketch

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