What does described mean?
"Described" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "describe," meaning to give an account of someone or something in words, whether spoken or written. It can also mean stating what category or character something belongs to, as in "she described herself as an optimist," or, in more technical contexts such as geometry, tracing out the outline of a figure. The word is neutral in register and appears everywhere from casual conversation to legal testimony and scientific reporting. It commonly pairs with "as" when conveying how something was characterized: "the plan was described as ambitious." Because it signals that an account is being reported rather than asserted as objective fact, writers often use it to attribute claims to a source carefully. Derived ultimately from Latin "describere," meaning "to write down or copy out," it belongs to a large family of words tied to writing and marking.
verbPast tense and past participle of "describe": to have given an account of something or someone in words, or to have represented or characterized it in a particular way.
- (past tense/past participle) To have given an account of someone or something in spoken or written words.
- (past tense/past participle) To have stated or characterized the nature, qualities, or class of something.
- (past tense/past participle, technical) To have traced or marked out the form or outline of a figure or shape.
"The witness described the suspect in remarkable detail."
"The witness described the getaway car as a dark blue sedan."
"Critics described the film as a masterwork of restraint."
"Described" hides one of English's oldest writing tools — its Latin root literally means "to write down," which is why so many words about writing (scribe, script, manuscript) share its DNA.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of described
"Described" derives from Latin "describere," meaning "to write down, copy, or mark out," formed from "de-" plus "scribere," "to write." It entered English via Old French "descrivre" in the late Middle Ages, with senses covering both written accounts and geometric tracing. Its root "scribere" also produced cognates such as "inscribe," "prescribe," "transcribe," and "manuscript," all preserving the core idea of writing or marking.
Related word forms
How described is actually used
"Described" is standard in both formal and informal registers. In journalism and academic writing, it frequently appears with "as" ("described as groundbreaking"), often introducing quoted or attributed characterizations.
Easily confused with described
"Described" means giving an account of something in words, while "prescribed" means recommending or ordering a course of action, such as medication or rules.