characterized

From the verb characterize: (⇒ conjugate)

characterized is: ⓘ

v past (US & UK)

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

char•ac•ter•ize /ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz/   v., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to be a characteristic of:
   [~ + object] Brutality characterizes that horrible dictator.
2. to describe the character of: [ ~ + obj + as + noun]:
   [~ + object + as] The president characterized that dictator as a scoundrel.
   [ ~ + obj + as + adjective]:
   I'd characterize him as crazy.

char•ac•ter•i•za•tion /ˌkærɪktərəˈzeɪʃən/  n. 

[countable] an actor's skillful characterizations.

[uncountable] unfair characterization of librarians as old maids.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

char•ac•ter•ize  (kar′ik tə rīz′), v.t., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to mark or distinguish as a characteristic;
   be a characteristic of:
   Rich metaphors characterize his poetry.
2. to describe the character or individual quality of:
   He characterized her in a few well-chosen words.
3. to attribute character to:
   to characterize him as a coward.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] char′ac•ter•ise′. 

• Greek charaktērízein. See character, -ize
• Medieval Latin charactērizāre
• 1585–95

char′ac•ter•iz′a•ble, adj. 
char′ac•ter•iz′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

characterize, characterise / ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz/ verb (transitive)

1. to be a characteristic of
2. to distinguish or mark as a characteristic
3. to describe or portray the character of