sketch

[ skech ]

noun

1. a simply or hastily executed drawing or painting, especially a preliminary one, giving the essential features without the details.
2. a rough design, plan, or draft, as of a book.

   Synonyms: outline

3. a brief or hasty outline of facts, occurrences, etc.:

   a sketch of his life.

4. a short, usually descriptive, essay, history, or story.
5. a short play or slight dramatic performance, as one forming part of a vaudeville program.

   Synonyms: routine, act, skit

verb (used with object)

1. to make a sketch of.

   Synonyms: represent, delineate, design, outline, draw

2. to set forth in a brief or general account:

   He sketched his own part in the affair.

3. Metallurgy. (in a steel mill or the like) to mark (a piece) for cutting.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a sketch or sketches.

sketch

/ skɛtʃ /

noun

1. a rapid drawing or painting, often a study for subsequent elaboration
2. a brief usually descriptive and informal essay or other literary composition
3. a short play, often comic, forming part of a revue
4. a short evocative piece of instrumental music, esp for piano
5. any brief outline

verb

1. to make a rough drawing (of)
2. troften foll byout to make a brief description of

Derived Forms

• ˈsketcher, noun
• ˈsketchable, adjective

Other Words From

• sketcher noun
• sketching·ly adverb
• sketchlike adjective
• re·sketch verb (used with object)
• un·sketched adjective
• well-sketched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sketch¹

1660–70; < Dutch schets (noun) ≪ Italian schizzo < Latin schedium extemporaneous poem, noun use of neuter of schedius extempore < Greek schédios

Word History and Origins

Origin of sketch¹

C17: from Dutch schets, via Italian from Latin schedius hastily made, from Greek skhedios unprepared

Synonym Study

See depict.

Example Sentences

“Guess what, you made I, Chloe Fineman, burst into tears,” she continued, “because I stayed up all night writing this sketch. I was so excited. I came in, I asked if you had any questions and you stared at me like you were firing me from Tesla and were like ‘It’s not funny.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Then she accused him of “pawing” through her script and — while mimicking his South African accent — claimed he didn’t laugh at the sketch a single time.

From Los Angeles Times

She did not name the sketch; however, she and Musk appeared together in “The Ooli Show” sketch of the May 2021 episode on which she received a writing credit.

From Los Angeles Times

She conceded that the sketch that made it into the episode “was fine” and that she “actually had a really good time” doing it.

From Los Angeles Times

He also claimed that the long-running, Emmy-winning sketch series “has been dying slowly for years, as they become increasingly out of touch with reality.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account
• blueprint
• cartoon
• chart
• copy
• depiction
• description
• illustration
• likeness
• painting
• picture
• piece
• portrayal
• summary
• version
• vignette