1
as in tracing
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in describing
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in characterizing
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in specifying
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of defining
In this interview, Hunter reflects on the lessons learned from his past ventures and how his unique background has led him to launch another category defining brand.
—
Dave Knox, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Start by defining clear work hours and turning off notifications after hours.
—Cindy Chia, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Building Resilience To me, resilience is the defining trait of champions.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
In a career spanning six decades, Giovanni became a defining voice of the Black Arts Movement in the late 1960s and a literary icon celebrated for her sharp, conversational style.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Amazon has plenty of these shape-defining pieces, including this glittering Ellacci bustier, a longline corset that doubles as a top, and a leather Bluebella bustier that has edgy metal hardware.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2024
How Hyundai balances this internal competition and positioning while maintaining clear value differentiations across its products will be pivotal in defining the success of this more premium Palisade.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
And support is something that’s a defining characteristic of their love story.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 Dec. 2024
Organizations can start by clearly defining and communicating career pathways, including both vertical and lateral opportunities.
—Chelsea C. Williams, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Dave Knox, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Start by defining clear work hours and turning off notifications after hours.
—Cindy Chia, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Building Resilience To me, resilience is the defining trait of champions.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
In a career spanning six decades, Giovanni became a defining voice of the Black Arts Movement in the late 1960s and a literary icon celebrated for her sharp, conversational style.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Amazon has plenty of these shape-defining pieces, including this glittering Ellacci bustier, a longline corset that doubles as a top, and a leather Bluebella bustier that has edgy metal hardware.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2024
How Hyundai balances this internal competition and positioning while maintaining clear value differentiations across its products will be pivotal in defining the success of this more premium Palisade.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
And support is something that’s a defining characteristic of their love story.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 Dec. 2024
Organizations can start by clearly defining and communicating career pathways, including both vertical and lateral opportunities.
—Chelsea C. Williams, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defining
Verb
-
In addition to tracing a timeline from the 2016 Bitfinex hack to the present day and describing how federal authorities discovered Morgan and Lichtenstein’s involvement, Biggest Heist Ever raises a new series of questions about the hack and its implications.Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
-
Their findings also revealed that residents of the seaside resort favored by wealthy Romans had diverse backgrounds, primarily tracing their ancestry to eastern Mediterranean immigrants, highlighting the mobility of people and the multicultural nature of the Roman Empire.Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
There’s also the corresponding Van Neumann bottleneck, describing limitations in transfer between the CPU and the memory.John Werner, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Penny did not testify, but several of his relatives, friends and fellow Marines did — describing him as an upstanding, patriotic and empathetic man.Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The book begins by outlining the various methodology around candying, with helpful charts and tips that lean more intuitive than overly technical.The Bon Appétit and Epicurious Staffs, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024
-
For outlining or detailed work, start with a thicker version of the icing.Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Kimmy towels off, changes into shorts and a long-sleeve shirt, and before long is bounding into the thickets on the south side of the lake, following an overgrown trail.Kate Siber, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
-
Kimmy towels off, changes into shorts and a long-sleeve shirt, and before long is bounding into the thickets on the south side of the lake, following an overgrown trail.Kate Siber, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Elsewhere in his interview with the Sunday Times, Craig dismissed the idea that portraying a gay man while still leading the Bond franchise would have made a statement on masculinity.Michaela Zee, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024
-
Denzel is finally able to act out his one-time fantasy of portraying Jean-Jacques Dessalines in a movie about the Haitian revolution.Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Founded by singer-songwriter Rihanna, the cosmetics brand entered the market with 40 foundation shades, effectively throwing down the gauntlet to an industry that had historically alienated women of color by limiting its palette to lighter skin tones.Tripp Westbrook, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
It’s been beneficial to have their primary big league feeder team on the same coast, limiting long flights and travel expenses for developing talent.Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In the past half hour, Saudi Arabia has been confirmed by the sports governing body FIFA.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, and his governing coalition is now dependent on key members of the country’s far-right settler movement.Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near defining
Cite this Entry
“Defining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defining. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share