characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 
ˈka-rik-
characterized; characterizing
1
: to describe the character (see character entry 1 sense 1a) or quality of
characterizes him as ambitious
2
: to be a characteristic of : distinguish
an era characterized by greed
Examples of characterize in a Sentence
How would you characterize the situation? I would characterize this as a positive change for our company. She had difficulty characterizing their relationship. His personality is hard to characterize. Farms and large flat fields characterize most of the area. the beliefs that characterized Europe in the 15th century
Recent Examples on the Web
The poll was conducted April 16-20, during which time the Strait of Hormuz was reopened by Iran, then closed again, an example of the whiplash that has characterized the conflict. —
Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The White House has said Trump is an avid defender of the First Amendment and characterized certain controversial actions as efforts to maintain public safety and order. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Private equity firms, for example, are currently operating in a deal market characterized by fewer transactions and intense competition for assets. —Perrie M. Weiner, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 In 2019, filmmakers gained rare access to document a revival meeting inside an Alabama prison, leading to a six-year investigation into the state’s deadly prison system, characterized by corruption, violence, and neglect. —Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characterize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The White House has said Trump is an avid defender of the First Amendment and characterized certain controversial actions as efforts to maintain public safety and order. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Private equity firms, for example, are currently operating in a deal market characterized by fewer transactions and intense competition for assets. —Perrie M. Weiner, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 In 2019, filmmakers gained rare access to document a revival meeting inside an Alabama prison, leading to a six-year investigation into the state’s deadly prison system, characterized by corruption, violence, and neglect. —Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize ˈkar-ik-tə-ˌrīz
characterized; characterizing
1
: to point out the character of an individual or group : describe
characterize him as ambitious
2
: to be characteristic of
tragic endings characterized her stories
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