How to Use outline in a Sentence

outline

1 of 2 noun
Definition of outlinenext
Synonyms for outlinenext
  • The leaves etched into the vase have a gold outline.
  • The pictures were drawn in outline and then filled in with color.
  • Her speech was written in outline on note cards.
  • Organize your essay by writing an outline in which you state your main idea followed by your supporting points.
  • By then, the broad outlines of a deal to release the hostages were in sight.
    — Jonathan Alter, The New Republic, 3 May 2023
  • With your outlines in front of you, mark the top of the big toe and the bottom of your heel.
    — Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Arrange them in the outline of a leaf and hot-glue in place.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
  • And from around the side of the building Frank’s outline appeared.
    — Mary Costello, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023
  • The outline of the QR code matches the logo for the art studio.
    — Caitlyn Freeman, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024
  • Lay the card flat, and using a needle, poke holes around the outline of the heart.
    — Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
  • Unlike the green outlines, the petals seemed to have been colored in by hand.
    — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
  • The movie had a star-less press tour and premiere given the strike's outlines.
    — Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
  • The dots grow and turn a brownish-gray color with red outlines.
    — oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
  • The green can has a large outline of Kelce’s iconic bushy beard and eyebrows.
    — Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Estes deftly marries the warp of sharp outlines to the weft of the wobbly mirage.
    — Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
  • Transfer one word per pumpkin, and use black acrylic or crafts paint to fill in the outline.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023
  • In the study, the team used a hybrid of 2D images to analyze the shape of the skulls’ outlines and 3D scans of their surface.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Aug. 2023
  • Here's a brief outline for this recipe, with the full recipe further below.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023
  • Check out this outline ring that is a simple nod to Mickey Mouse.
    — Ali Faccenda, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023
  • The outlines of the Disney-DeSantis fight have been well chewed over at this point.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
  • Instead of filling in the French tip, the blue polish is left as just an outline so the shiny nude base can peek through.
    — Tasha Nicole Smith, ELLE, 26 July 2023
  • Like other i7s, the M70 can be spec'd with two-tone paint, and the outline of the ginormous kidney grille lights up.
    — Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 18 Apr. 2023
  • To the west, the Mediterranean and the Israeli coastal city Netanya are just visible, and to the east, a faint outline of the mountains of Jordan.
    — Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
  • The outline of the orchid was with a wire and then dangling from the middle of the orchid was a little Venetian chain with a drop at the end.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024
  • Define the primary goal of your brief and outline key points to keep you focused.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024
  • The video, played early in the trial and again Friday, shows the dark outlines of people trapped in the bunk room as the fire approaches.
    — Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
  • The clerk could see the outline of a handgun through Stucki's gray hoodie, the affidavit states.
    — Thomas Saccente, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2023
  • So the binders are less a playbook and more an outline of the coach’s tactical and strategic philosophies.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
  • Behind the curvature of the path, there is a dark, wooded outline and a soft, silvery wind.
    — Hazlitt, 26 July 2023
  • The outline of a deal has been put together during weeks of talks in Doha, Qatar.
    — Nbc Universal, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023
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outline

2 of 2 verb
  • The book outlines the major events of the country's history.
  • All players must follow the rules outlined above.
  • The President outlined his agenda for the next term.
  • Step 1: Remove all the hair from your brush, as outlined above.
    — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2023
  • The themes outlined in the series are immense and haunting.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Their courses are outlined on the best and latest practices from the industry.
    — Maria Williams, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
  • Biden’s State of the Union and recent 2025 budget proposal outlined changes to the tax code that would enhance fairness.
    — Susan Harley, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
  • The court documents outlined the ways in which Binance and Zhao tried to avoid laws limiting their reach.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
  • The law outlines that those found to be in the U.S. illegally may be given the choice to leave the country or accept misdemeanor charges.
    — Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023
  • The plans outline how many employees are in each agency and what type of jobs would be required to report to work without pay.
    — Lauren Peller, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2023
  • Holes in that part of the image are outlined in ionized gas, appearing white and purple in the near-infrared image.
    — Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
  • Available data do not outline how much is stolen in a typical ATM theft.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
  • The food worker didn’t respond to a request for comment, but her case is outlined in internal emails obtained by the AP.
    — Nick Perry, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2023
  • Cresting the ridge, the investigators began to outline a GOA about a quarter-acre in size.
    — John Riha, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023
  • There are no specific 3-week-old baby milestones, but the AAP does outline what most babies should be able to do by 1 month, or around four weeks old.
    — Parents Editors, Parents, 1 Oct. 2023
  • Here's a timeline of the district's financial woes since June, some of which was outlined in a recent newsletter from the district.
    — The Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2024
  • Though details are still scant, Ms. Wagenknecht and her allies have outlined four major planks for the party platform.
    — Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2023
  • Late Wednesday night, the senators outlined rules dictating the structure and tenor of the proceedings.
    — Philip Jankowski, Dallas News, 22 June 2023
  • The two later built a digital maze (McGibbon was nicknamed the maze master) that outlined each outcome.
    — Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2023
  • And, and, and DeWine outlined several ways the state seeking to help address violent crime in Cleveland this summer.
    — Laura Johnston, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2023
  • Rows upon rows of dirt mounds marking mass graves now outline the edges of villages that have been decimated.
    — Yaqoob Akbary Victor J. Blue, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
  • The speech, drawn up by the government but read by the monarch, outlines the various laws that the government plans to pursue in the new parliamentary session.
    — Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Nov. 2023
  • Some are outlined by the law, like the suffering of the victim’s family or the defendant having any felony conviction within the last 10 years.
    — Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2023
  • The Prince of Wales, 41, penned a message for a new children's book that outlines his hopes for his environmental award that seeks to find solutions to help the planet, the Earthshot Prize.
    — Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
  • The back patio was enlarged and outlined by beds of white flowers to complement the stark white exterior of the house itself, and in contrast to the large expanse of grass beyond it.
    — Emily Hedrick, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024
  • The simple four-step setup process was clearly outlined in the manual, and clear graphics were extra helpful.
    — Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2023
  • Rope, sticks, and leather straps surround this simple but effective black burlap face; its eyes are outlined in twine, and half a dozen chunks of volcanic rock hang down as ornaments.
    — Will Heinrich, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
  • One of the people outlined the ask: Monumental would receive the $600 million over four years and use it mostly on construction.
    — Sam Fortier, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
  • In the Aston Martin layout, there’s a media display in the center, surrounded by the speedometer and tachometer, and outlined in the brand’s distinctive green.
    — Richard Lawler, The Verge, 20 Dec. 2023
  • Dodds outlined his philosophy on finding the right fit during training camp last year.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 8 Jan. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outline.' 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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