1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of
she carefully outlined the tree before she started drawing in the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
outlined the important points in the introduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in silhouette
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface
place your hand on the paper and draw an outline around it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
a printed outline of the lecture has been made available for all attendees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outline
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
This column is our attempt to clinically outline the facts about deficits — and efforts to reduce or eliminate them.
—Axios, 25 Feb. 2025
David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
The cabinet is now charged with drafting a policy statement - a broad outline of the upcoming government’s approach and priorities - and will then need a vote of confidence from Lebanon’s parliament to be fully empowered.
—Reuters, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outline
Verb
According to the news agency Reuters, an ICE memo has outlined an unprecedented push to target migrant children who crossed the border illegally as unaccompanied minors.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
This column is our attempt to clinically outline the facts about deficits — and efforts to reduce or eliminate them.
—Axios, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
Senate budget writers plan to meet Thursday to formally begin the process by producing a broad outline of a budget for fiscal 2026, which begins Oct. 1.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
The cabinet is now charged with drafting a policy statement - a broad outline of the upcoming government’s approach and priorities - and will then need a vote of confidence from Lebanon’s parliament to be fully empowered.
—Reuters, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outline
Verb
-
This timely book traces the origins and significance of Thai labor in Israel.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Intended to show support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war (the first phase of which has since been completed), the Jewish community contends that the red hand image traces its roots to a 2000 incident in the West Bank which resulted in the deaths of several IDF soldiers.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Perplexity gathers the information, summarizes it, presents it, and takes follow-up questions to dig deeper.—
Samuel Axon,
Ars Technica,
24 Feb. 2025
-
To summarize the rest would take a couple more columns-worth of length.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The jacket also included a longer silhouette in the back.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Tory Burch and McQueen exemplified the new fit, which tucks in at the waist and flares below—a silhouette that looks good on pretty much everyone (and leaves some room for layering).—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The military released only a summary of the report and military officials outlined its findings.—
MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, WAFAA SHURAFA, NATALIE MELZER AND TIA GOLDENBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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Agencies will still be allowed to offer documents and services in languages other than English, according to a White House summary of the order seen by The Wall Street Journal.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
By Raja Shehadeh Save In this short, pained meditation, Shehadeh, a renowned Palestinian writer and human rights advocate, puzzles over the conflict that has defined his life.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The British duo’s songs were also defined by emotional catharsis, drawing on childhood trauma and nightmares to produce big, hooky synth pop anthems that quickly took over the charts in the U.K., and eventually the rest of the world.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But the latest launches prove the rules are meant to be broken, with new options for shimmery highlighters for ice queens, soft blushes in a range of textures and contours to sculpt your features.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The aforementioned suits also look properly dark while their cuts, contours, and textures are still visible.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Now is the time to make a plan, research options, stock up on supplies and sketch out your future work of art.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The teen who loved Takis, playing basketball and sketching characters from Dragon Ball Z could sometimes be a challenge.—
Ellen Moynihan,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outline. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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