A1 noun Neutral #1,517 most common

describe

/dɪˈskraɪb/

To say or write what someone or something is like. It is used to give details about how things look, feel, sound, or happen so that others can imagine them.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Can you describe your best friend to me?

Please tell me what your best friend is like (their appearance and personality).

2

The witness was asked to describe the suspect in court.

The person who saw the crime was asked to give details about the criminal's appearance.

3

Just describe what you saw, it doesn't have to be perfect.

Tell me the basic things you saw without worrying about being exact.

Word Family

Noun
description
Verb
describe
Adverb
descriptively
Adjective
descriptive
Related
descriptor
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'scribe' part of the word. A 'scribe' is a writer. When you describe something, you are 'writing' a picture with your words.

Quick Quiz

The police asked the woman to ______ the man who took her bag.

Correct!

The correct answer is: describe

Examples

1

Can you describe your best friend to me?

everyday

Please tell me what your best friend is like (their appearance and personality).

2

The witness was asked to describe the suspect in court.

formal

The person who saw the crime was asked to give details about the criminal's appearance.

3

Just describe what you saw, it doesn't have to be perfect.

informal

Tell me the basic things you saw without worrying about being exact.

4

This paper will describe the results of the scientific study.

academic

This document will explain the findings of the research in detail.

5

Please describe your main responsibilities in your last job.

business

Please explain what tasks you did in your previous position.

Word Family

Noun
description
Verb
describe
Adverb
descriptively
Adjective
descriptive
Related
descriptor

Common Collocations

describe in detail to give many specific facts about something
accurately describe to give a correct and true account of something
briefly describe to give a short and quick explanation
describe a situation to explain what is happening at a specific time
describe a person to talk about someone's appearance or character

Common Phrases

describe as

to use specific words to label someone or something

hard to describe

something that is difficult to put into words

describe in a nutshell

to describe something very briefly

Often Confused With

describe vs explain

Describe is about what something is like (appearance/qualities); Explain is about why or how something works.

📝

Usage Notes

The word 'describe' is a transitive verb, which means it usually needs a direct object (the thing you are describing). It is common to follow it with 'what', 'how', or 'who'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Many learners mistakenly say 'describe about something'. In English, you 'describe something' directly without using the word 'about'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'scribe' part of the word. A 'scribe' is a writer. When you describe something, you are 'writing' a picture with your words.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'describere', which means 'to write down' or 'to represent by drawing'.

Grammar Patterns

Regular verb: describe, described, described Pattern: describe + [noun] Pattern: describe + [wh- clause] (e.g., describe what happened)

Quick Quiz

The police asked the woman to ______ the man who took her bag.

Correct!

The correct answer is: describe

Related Phrases

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