describe
Word family
- descriptionnounB1
- descriptiveadjectiveB2
- indescribableadjectiveB2
- describableadjectiveC1
- describedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
The four verbs describe, portray, depict, and characterize all involve giving an account of someone or something, but they differ in emphasis and context. Describe is the most general and frequent word, used for any verbal or written account of what something is like. Portray often carries a sense of creating a vivid or emotional image, especially in art, film, or literature — a novelist portrays a character's inner world. Depict is more formal and can refer to both visual and verbal representation; a painting depicts a scene, while a report depicts the conditions of a crisis. Characterize focuses on the most distinctive qualities of a person or thing, often answering what makes that person or thing unique. For example, you might describe a colleague as hardworking, portray them as a hero in a story, depict the office atmosphere in a report, and characterize the team culture as collaborative.
Common collocations
Etymology
Describe entered English in the 15th century, borrowed from Latin 'describere', meaning 'to write down, copy, or sketch'. The Latin word is formed from 'de-' ('down, off') and 'scribere' ('to write'). The sense of giving a verbal account of something developed already in Latin and was carried into English through French 'descrivre'. The scientific sense of formally naming a new species emerged in the 18th century alongside the development of modern biological taxonomy.