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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of outline
Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
The complaint, which has been reviewed by EW, outlines how McGraw formed Merit Street as a joint venture between his other company, Peteski Productions, and TBN.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 3 July 2025
Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There's an awe-inspiring moment in the final act where an outline shines through smoke.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for outline
Verb
In a statement after the Jan. 29 midair collision over D.C., Doggett grieved those lost in that plane crash and outlined similar issues Austin is facing.
—Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
The complaint, which has been reviewed by EW, outlines how McGraw formed Merit Street as a joint venture between his other company, Peteski Productions, and TBN.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 3 July 2025
Noun
The pieces came together in 1978 when geophysicists Glen Penfield and Antonio Camargo discovered the outline of a crater hundreds of kilometers wide at the edge of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
—Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There's an awe-inspiring moment in the final act where an outline shines through smoke.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for outline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outline
Verb
-
The Library of Michigan traces it to the Ojibwe word Washtenong, meaning Grand River, farther district or land beyond, according to Michigan State University.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
7 July 2025
-
While the first official Ranger battalion was formed in 1942, the Rangers trace their lineage back to at least the 1750s.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
The motive can be summarized as pure agency, pure evil; in other words, premeditated murder.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2025
-
The ubiquity of that level of hit-making is summarized in Sheeran's TIME feature.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
The maxi silhouette and crew neckline provide good coverage, while the sleeveless design is breezy for warm weather.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
11 July 2025
-
From Viktor & Rolf to Robert Wun and Chanel, this year’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 runway shows were all about extravagant silhouettes and otherworldly, architectural designs.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
-
That includes Call Notes (an automatic summary of your phone call), and support for the Pixel Screenshots app.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Changeable tastes and desires define your next four months.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
7 July 2025
-
Tons of shoppers are going after this Maybelline liquid blush that provides a natural yet pigmented flush, as well as this CoverGirl mascara that lengthens and defines lashes in one fell swoop.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Trump's announcements amount to a declaration that the relationship must fundamentally change, and reactions by regional players carry vast implications for the flow of goods and the contours of geopolitics in the years to come.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
9 July 2025
-
Using accurate depth information and environmental learning, Vision AI helps the mower recognize terrain contours, guiding it to create optimal mowing paths.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Verb
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By reimagining the boundaries of where its sport can potentially thrive, the AVP might have sketched out a novel blueprint for other sports.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
-
Through some 90 pieces, drawn from the brand’s patrimonial collections but also on loan from private collectors, the display is about the rich history left behind by founder Jean Dinh Van, a singular jeweler who sculpted rather than sketched his designs.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outline. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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