sketch
1 of 2noun
ˈskech 
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
sketch
2 of 2verb
sketched; sketching; sketches
transitive verb
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
intransitive verb
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher noun
Synonyms
Noun
- cartoon
- delineation
- drawing
Verb
- define
- delineate
- outline
- silhouette
- trace
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 The rubber-stamping, especially in the sketch and late night categories, is one of the most tedious downsides of the Emmys every year. Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 The sketch with Paddington wasn't the first time the queen surprised with her acting ability. WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Momoa and Corden appeared to drink from Mananalu water bottles for the sketch. Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Angela just can’t get over the poop sketch, and even declares it a Satanic ritual - Nathan’s exasperated, sarcastic response feels like another glimpse behind his mask. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The sketch on the right is a rendering of a person of interest in her death. Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022 Turning the sketch into an evolved vision is now significantly in the hands of people who live near, use or otherwise have an interest in Robinson, according to staff of the Florida Department of Transportation. Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2022 Click here for her ABC News interview and click here for the Saturday Night Live sketch. James Brown, USA TODAY, 24 July 2022 Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 12 Sep. 2022 Saturday Night Live is returning for its 48th season, and the iconic NBC sketch comedy show announced on Monday (Sept. 12) that the newest season will premiere on Oct. 1. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2022 At the time, both sketch comedy stars worked for Comedy Central — Peretti was writing for and acting in Kroll Show, while Peele was writing for Kroll Show as well as writing for and starring in Key & Peele. Emily St. Martin, PEOPLE.com, 20 July 2022 Also dark are the shadows cast by the interlaced ropes, which sketch complex, mutable webs on the gallery's white walls. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Many therapists, myself included, see their role very differently—to facilitate clients’ own understanding of their emotional lives, rather than to sketch it out for them. The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 After giving the client a quote, employees start to sketch and create iterations of what the project could look like. Marco Quiroz-gutierrez, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2021 One of his first assignments with Louis was to sketch a dress for Marilyn Monroe for a top-secret event. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 15 July 2022 In addition to keeping the IT professionals busy with questions, one student from nearby Chandler Park Academy found time to sketch a striking portrait of Ball, which the student presented to Ball at the conclusion of the panel. Scott Talley, Freep.com, 15 July 2022 See More
Noun
Melissa Villaseñor, the show’s first Latina cast member, Alex Moffat and Aristotle Athari, the first Middle Eastern man to join the sketch ensemble. Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 The rubber-stamping, especially in the sketch and late night categories, is one of the most tedious downsides of the Emmys every year. Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 The sketch with Paddington wasn't the first time the queen surprised with her acting ability. WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Momoa and Corden appeared to drink from Mananalu water bottles for the sketch. Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Angela just can’t get over the poop sketch, and even declares it a Satanic ritual - Nathan’s exasperated, sarcastic response feels like another glimpse behind his mask. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The sketch on the right is a rendering of a person of interest in her death. Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022 Turning the sketch into an evolved vision is now significantly in the hands of people who live near, use or otherwise have an interest in Robinson, according to staff of the Florida Department of Transportation. Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2022 Click here for her ABC News interview and click here for the Saturday Night Live sketch. James Brown, USA TODAY, 24 July 2022 Verb
The 74th annual Primetime Emmy Awards are airing on September 12, and sketch comedy lovers are thrilled to see longtime Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson hosting the ceremony. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 12 Sep. 2022 Saturday Night Live is returning for its 48th season, and the iconic NBC sketch comedy show announced on Monday (Sept. 12) that the newest season will premiere on Oct. 1. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2022 At the time, both sketch comedy stars worked for Comedy Central — Peretti was writing for and acting in Kroll Show, while Peele was writing for Kroll Show as well as writing for and starring in Key & Peele. Emily St. Martin, PEOPLE.com, 20 July 2022 Also dark are the shadows cast by the interlaced ropes, which sketch complex, mutable webs on the gallery's white walls. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Many therapists, myself included, see their role very differently—to facilitate clients’ own understanding of their emotional lives, rather than to sketch it out for them. The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 After giving the client a quote, employees start to sketch and create iterations of what the project could look like. Marco Quiroz-gutierrez, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2021 One of his first assignments with Louis was to sketch a dress for Marilyn Monroe for a top-secret event. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 15 July 2022 In addition to keeping the IT professionals busy with questions, one student from nearby Chandler Park Academy found time to sketch a striking portrait of Ball, which the student presented to Ball at the conclusion of the panel. Scott Talley, Freep.com, 15 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Dutch schets, from Italian schizzo, literally, splash, from schizzare to splash, of imitative origin
First Known Use
Noun
1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1694, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing sketch
Kids Definition
sketch 1 of 2
noun
ˈskech
1
: a rough outline or drawing showing the main features of something
2
: a short written work (as a story or essay)
3
: a short comic performance
sketch
2 of 2verb
sketched; sketching
1
: to make a drawing, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to describe or outline (something) briefly
Should the scheme he had now sketched prove feasible, Silver … would not hesitate to adopt it. Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Islandsketch 1 of 2
noun
1
as in drawing
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene made a quick sketch from which she would create a more detailed painting later Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- drawing
- portrait
- illustration
- cartoon
- image
- depiction
- outline
- caricature
- representation
- delineation
- doodle
- silhouette
- contour
- watercolor
- engraving
- etching
- etch
- likeness
- figure
- blueprint
- charcoal
- pastel
- line drawing
- aquatint
2
as in portrait
a vivid representation in words of someone or something gave her boss quick sketches of the personalities of the clients he was about to meet Synonyms & Similar Words
- portrait
- description
- depiction
- picture
- portrayal
- rendering
- definition
- vignette
- illustration
- tale
- portraiture
- delineation
- narrative
- account
- report
- story
- chronicle
- anecdote
- explanation
- demonstration
- yarn
- exposition
- exemplification
- clarification
- explication
- elucidation
sketch
2 of 2verb
1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of sketched the garden pavilion on a pad of paper so the homeowners would have a rough idea of how it was going to look Synonyms & Similar Words
- trace
- outline
- silhouette
- define
- circle
- line
- round
- trim
- delineate
- frame
- draw
- diagram
- surround
- bound
- chart
- margin
- fringe
- loop
- skirt
- edge
- rim
- ring
- hem
- compass
- girdle
- girth
- map (out)
- encircle
2
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words briefly sketched the intent of the reorganization plan Synonyms & Similar Words
- describe
- portray
- depict
- picture
- paint
- image
- set out
- render
- outline
- draw
- illustrate
- characterize
- report
- delineate
- recount
- show
- summarize
- limn
- define
- display
- vignette
- silhouette
- exhibit
- represent
- trace
- label
- relate
- narrate
- demonstrate
- recite
- tell
- hint
- draft
- suggest
- qualify
- rehearse
- touch off
- sum up
- redescribe
- reimage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- color
- distort
- twist
- falsify
- misrepresent
- pervert
- warp
- misstate
- misdescribe
- garble