adjective
descriptive
dih-SKRIP-tiv/dɪˈskrɪptɪv/
Reporting how something actually is.
The descriptive drawing shows the bird's striped wing and curved beak.
Etymology
The base means “write down” and also developed the sense “sketch” or “represent.” The adjective ending makes descriptive mean serving to represent something—giving details that show what it is like.
In context
great descriptive writing is only as descriptive as it needs to be you don't always need to go into every detail about a character's appearance or the way a location looks
More examples
- Her descriptive report explains what conditions are like inside the shelter.
- Descriptive grammar examines how people actually speak and write.
- These notes are descriptive, not instructions for changing the process.
Forms
descriptive
describe verb — Report what someone or something is like.
description noun — An account of someone's or something's characteristics.
Similar words
- factual
- Emphasizes accurate facts rather than describing qualities or characteristics.
- observational
- Specifically concerns what is noticed through watching or examining.