outline

[ out-lahyn ]

noun

1. the line by which a figure or object is defined or bounded; contour.
2. a drawing or sketch restricted to line without shading or modeling of form.
3. a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features, as of a book, subject, or project:

   an outline of medieval history; an outline of a speech.

   Synonyms: summary, synopsis, rough, draft, plan

4. outlines, the essential features or main aspects of something under discussion:

   At the first meeting, we gave her only the outlines of the project.

5. Printing. an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white.

verb (used with object)

, out·lined, out·lin·ing.

1. to draw the outline of, or draw in outline, as a figure or object.

   Synonyms: draft, delineate

2. to give an outline of; sketch the main features of:

   On the first day, the professor just outlined the course for us.

   Synonyms: draft, delineate

outline

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a preliminary or schematic plan, draft, account, etc
2. usually plural the important features of an argument, theory, work, etc
3. the line by which an object or figure is or appears to be bounded
4. 1. a drawing or manner of drawing consisting only of external lines
   2. ( as modifier )

      an outline map

verb

1. to draw or display the outline of
2. to give the main features or general idea of

Other Words From

• pre·outline noun verb (used with object) preoutlined preoutlining
• re·outline verb (used with object) reoutlined reoutlining
• well-outlined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of outline¹

First recorded in 1655–65; out- + line ¹

Synonym Study

See form.

Example Sentences

Jean-Pierre did not offer details of the meeting or outline who in Trump’s team planned to attend.

From Los Angeles Times

This means that sometimes the sharks mistake a surfer's silhouette for the outline of a seal.

From BBC

Trump has promised to end the conflict but has yet to outline how he intends to do so.

From BBC

The New York Times reports that Trump was required to submit the documents, which outline how the president will avoid conflicts of interest in office and lay out plans for other ethical concerns, more than a month ago.

From Salon

And though Harris tried to spend the home stretch of her campaign underlining that her administration would not be a continuation of Biden's, she failed to clearly outline her own policies, often skirting around issues instead of addressing perceived failures head on.

From BBC

Related Words

• blueprint
• draft
• drawing
• framework
• summary
• synopsis