DictionaryAI

characterise

verb
UKKA-rik-tuh-ryz/ˈkæɹəktəɹaɪz/USKAIR-ik-tuh-ryz/ˈkɛɹəktəɹaɪz/

Formscharacterises, characterising, characterised

US spellingcharacterize · also used in the UK

3 meanings of characterise

Practice

  1. 1
    be typicalverbtransitive
    To be something you usually find in a person, place or thing.

    Bright colours and bold shapes characterise his paintings.

    Friendly, quick service characterises the little café on the corner.

    UsageOften said as characterised by: a summer characterised by rain.

    Similarmark, typify

  2. 2
    describe asverbtransitive
    To say what someone or something is like, often in an unkind or negative way.

    Some newspapers characterise teenagers as lazy and rude.

    She characterised the meeting as a complete waste of time.

    UsageSay characterise someone as something: characterise teenagers as lazy.

    Similardescribe, portray, depict, paint, label

  3. 3
    identify featuresverbtransitive
    To find out what something is like and what its special qualities are.

    Scientists ran several tests to characterise the new material.

    The team is still trying to characterise the virus.

    Similaranalyse, assess

Practice

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Origin

Made from character and -ise.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact