1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study
b
: a tentative draft (as for a literary work)
2
: a brief description (as of a person) or outline
3
a
: a short literary composition somewhat resembling the short story and the essay but intentionally slight in treatment, discursive in style, and familiar in tone
b
: a short instrumental composition usually for piano
c
: a slight theatrical piece having a single scene
especially
: a comic variety act
sketched; sketching; sketches
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sketch in a Sentence
Noun
He made a sketch of his house.
He wrote up a sketch of the plot.
There is a biographical sketch of the author on the book's back cover.
Verb
He sketched the trees outside his window.
He likes to sit outside and sketch.
She sketched the plan for us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Early sketches of the Alpha5.Photograph: DeLorean Motor Company DeLorean Motors Reimagined went from founding to concept car within nine months.
—Kathy Gilsinan, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sketch 
Noun
Will the jury be kept anonymous? Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, and sketch artists usually avoid jurors' faces.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Early sketches of the Alpha5.Photograph: DeLorean Motor Company DeLorean Motors Reimagined went from founding to concept car within nine months.
—Kathy Gilsinan, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sketch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sketch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sketch
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene
b
: a rough draft (as of a story)
2
: a brief description or outline
3
: a short comedy piece
sketch
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
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