- present participle of define.
defining
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"An overly dry spring and a heatwave in the second half of June were defining factors" leading to what the group described as a "below-average grain harvest" forecast at 41.9 million tonnes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
He then invokes the term at least a dozen times before defining it—belief “in a Spiritual Law that exists apart from the physical world”—26 pages later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Something new to listen to: Six years ago, indie rocker Phoebe Bridgers’ last solo album became one of the defining records of the decade.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
"This research adds to a growing body of work establishing that even severely aphasic individuals can preserve their ability for abstract logical thought -- a defining feature of our species," Fedorenko says.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The view to either side was of a sort of tunnel with cells defining one wall and a mesh fence overlooking the flats the other.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
