1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study
b
: a tentative draft (as for a literary work)
2
: a brief description (as of a person) or outline
3
a
: a short literary composition somewhat resembling the short story and the essay but intentionally slight in treatment, discursive in style, and familiar in tone
b
: a short instrumental composition usually for piano
c
: a slight theatrical piece having a single scene
especially
: a comic variety act
sketched; sketching; sketches
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sketch in a Sentence
Noun
He made a sketch of his house.
He wrote up a sketch of the plot.
There is a biographical sketch of the author on the book's back cover.
Verb
He sketched the trees outside his window.
He likes to sit outside and sketch.
She sketched the plan for us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Roan marked her debut on the NBC sketch comedy series alongside six-time host and comedian John Mulaney in an episode ahead of Election Day Nov. 5.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024
Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
One of Young's first jobs was being dispatched to London Zoo to sketch penguins to create the publisher's logo.
—Robert Johnston, theweek, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sketch 
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
While sketch comedy show frequently takes aim at Trump — played since 2016 by Alec Baldwin and James Austin Johnson — Saturday's episode spoofed the actors paying fealty to the new commander in chief.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Roan marked her debut on the NBC sketch comedy series alongside six-time host and comedian John Mulaney in an episode ahead of Election Day Nov. 5.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
What to expect: Lots of color, camaraderie and ladders as artists sketch out and paint works.
—Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
One of Young's first jobs was being dispatched to London Zoo to sketch penguins to create the publisher's logo.
—Robert Johnston, theweek, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sketch
Articles Related to sketch
Dictionary Entries Near sketch
Cite this Entry
“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sketch
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene
b
: a rough draft (as of a story)
2
: a brief description or outline
3
: a short comedy piece
sketch
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a sketch, rough draft, or outline of
2
: to draw or paint a sketch
sketcher
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share