diagram

1 of 2

noun

di·​a·​gram ˈdī-ə-ˌgram How to pronounce diagram (audio)
Synonyms of diagramnext
1
: a graphic design that explains rather than represents
especially : a drawing that shows arrangement and relations (as of parts)
2
: a line drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes
diagrammable
ˈdī-ə-ˌgra-mə-bəl How to pronounce diagram (audio)
adjective
diagrammatic
ˌdī-ə-grə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce diagram (audio)
adjective
or less commonly diagrammatical
ˌdī-ə-grə-ˈma-ti-kəl How to pronounce diagram (audio)
diagrammatically
ˌdī-ə-grə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce diagram (audio)
adverb

diagram

2 of 2

verb

diagrammed or diagramed ˈdī-ə-ˌgramd How to pronounce diagram (audio) ; diagramming or diagraming ˈdī-ə-ˌgra-miŋ How to pronounce diagram (audio)

transitive verb

: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagram a football play

Synonyms

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of diagram in a Sentence

Noun a diagram of the nervous system This diagram shows how the clock operates. Verb The coach diagrammed the new play on the blackboard. The students were required to diagram a sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
These are lower-end bike computers that, sure enough, could roughly tally with the rectangular diagram seen in the FCC documentation. — Andrew Williams, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 The company said Gemini 2.0 is now available as one of the models in the offering, and a new feature called Visual Q&A will allow doctors to search diagrams, tables and charts. — Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
Inside the Serbian men’s national basketball team’s locker room at halftime of its semifinal against the United States, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić is furiously diagramming a play on a whiteboard. — Richard Deitsch, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025 Some of them had stood in the driving rain on Monday, and when the jumper bridge looked too precarious for their liking, diagrammed in the mud their ideas for shoring up its support. — Gary Greenberg, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for diagram

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek diagramma, from diagraphein to mark out by lines, from dia- + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagram was in 1619

Phrases Containing diagram

Rhymes for diagram

See All Rhymes for diagram

Browse Nearby Words

diagonial
diagram
diagram factor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diagram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagram. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

diagram

1 of 2 noun
di·​a·​gram ˈdī-ə-ˌgram How to pronounce diagram (audio)
: a drawing, sketch, plan, or chart that makes something clearer or easier to understand
diagrammatic
ˌdī-ə-grə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce diagram (audio)
adjective
also diagrammatical
-ˈmat-i-kəl How to pronounce diagram (audio)
diagrammatically
-ˈmat-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce diagram (audio)
adverb

diagram

2 of 2 verb
diagrammed or diagramed
-ˌgramd
 ; diagramming or diagraming
-ˌgram-iŋ
: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagrammed a football play

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