- present tense form of define (3rd person singular).
defines
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.
“Run, Denise!” is the kind of unhelpful remark, delivered by Greg when his wife is already well aware that a T. rex is bearing down on her, that defines the dialogue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
“Offering a generous 20-foot-wide footprint and spanning 5,000 square feet, this six-bedroom, six-bath residence defines timeless urban sophistication,” the listing crowed.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
The UK government defines a child as anyone under 18.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
In Seoul's affluent district of Gangnam, a severe heatwave has changed the currency of cool: access to air conditioning now defines the line between the haves and the have-nots.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
It defines a different kind of change to the world and our lives, and indirectly would drive Paul’s eventual research: Metcalfe’s law.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
