If I had to define life in a word, it would be: Life is creation.
Source: tatoeba (30956)
Define
/dɪˈfaɪn/
Synonyms for "define" (314 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (63)
Verb(18 words)
limitboundcircumscribedcircumscribesclarifiedclarifyclarify dataclarify the issueclarifying phrasingconcretiseconcretizecrystalisecrystalizedcrystallizecrystallizedcrystallizesdeclaredeclared
Noun(17 words)
alignment standardassigningbenchmarkbenchmark performance measurebenchmarking conceptbenchmarkscharacterize bycharacterizingclarifying questionclassesclearingcommand setconcreteconcretescontouringcontract typecurriculum aim
Adjective(2 words)
clear goalsconstitutional change procedure
Strong matches (94)
Noun(21 words)
declaringdefiningdelimitingdelineatingdemarcatingdesign aestheticdesign attributedesign attribute valuesdesign problemdesign propertydetermine the meandeterminingdimensionsdocument formatelaphureelementary grade regulationframesfuture workgarden feature borderglossing
Show 1 more word
internally defined
Verb(21 words)
definesdelimitdelimitatedelimiteddelimitsdelineatedelineateddelineatesdemarcateddemarcatesdenotesdescribedescribeddetermineenunciateestablish a policyexplainexplainsfixformulating
Show 1 more word
ground a hypothesis
Related words (157)
Noun(40 words)
italian statokeynotinglandmarkslearning oriented termletlofortyxmark finite verbmarkoffmean parameterpinningpolicy termpredicate wordproperty termscopescopesscopingset guidelinesset of natural numberssetssetting a standard
Show 20 more words
shape conceptshortcutspeccingspecifyingstate clearlystate guidelinesstate language arts standardsstate math curriculumstate matterstate of beingstate of present momentstate statute codestatesstem cell linestipulatingstudy variabletermstypifyingvanguardswelding step
jamkeynotelabellay bylay downlay offlimitlinelodgemake a markmarginmarkmark boundariesmark offmark outmark the peripherymottlenamenicknickname
Show 74 more words
nominatenotchoutlinepackpencilpepperplantpointprescribeprickprintpunchpunctuatepuncturereadread intorepresentriddlerimrootrope offscarscarifyscorescotchscratchsealseamseatsetset apartset downset inset the limitset the paceset the tonesettleshapeskirtsound the keynotespecifyspeckspecklespell outsplotchspotstainstakestake outstampstatestereotypestigmatizestreakstriatestripestylesurroundtagtaketake it thattake to meantattootermticktick offtitletraceunderlineunderscoreunderstandunderstand byvergewedge
Verb(22 words)
metesnarrowedparticularizeparticularizesprescribesprécisingrestrictscopedsetset boundaryspeccedspecifiedspecifiesspecifystate meaningstate the issuestate the problemstatedstating the problemstipulate
Show 2 more words
Adjective(1 words)
political term
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: limit, alignment standard, assign, assigning, baptize.
- Sentence evidence is available for define, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "define".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "define"
Keep "define" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "define" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "define", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "define" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
6 entriesdefine boundarydefine conceptdefine extentdefine scopedefine termdefine word
Collocations
5 entriesdefine a conceptdefine a termdefine clearlydefine preciselydefine the term
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
Can you clearly define this word?
Source: tatoeba (59336)
How would you define "happiness"?
Source: tatoeba (70271)
It is hard to define "triangle."
Source: tatoeba (73688)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "define"?
Closest matches include limit, alignment standard, assign, assigning, baptize.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "define"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.