describe

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈskraɪb/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɪˈskraɪb/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(di skrīb)

Inflections of 'describe' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
describes
v 3rd person singular
describing
v pres p
described
v past
described
v past p
WordReference Collins English Usage © 2025
describe
The verb describe can be used either with a direct object or with a wh-clause.
used with a direct object
When you describe someone or something, you say what they are like.
Can you describe your son?
You can use describe with a direct object and an indirect object. The direct object goes first.
He described the murderer in detail to the police officer.
She described the feeling to me.
used with a wh-clause
Describe can be used in front of various kinds of wh-clause.
The man described what he had seen.
He described how he escaped from prison.
You can use describe with an indirect object and a wh-clause. The indirect object goes first.
I can't describe to you what it was like.
I described to him what had happened in Patricia's house.
Be careful
When you use describe with an indirect object, you must put to in front of the indirect object. Don't say, for example, ‘She described me the feeling’ or ‘I can’t describe you what it was like'.
'describe' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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