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Glite Dictionary
📝 To summarize 📝 A summary ✏️ To mark edges 🌳 Outer shape
to outline

to outline

148 3.3
To give the main points of something
  • verb
  • /ˈaʊtˌlaɪn/
translation icon : esbozar
  • In her speech, the director will outline the steps needed to improve the community program.
  • outline objectives
  • outline a plan
  • outline the steps

So you really need to outline these changes in a certain way.

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Examples

  • In the following, I have outlined a method to assist in making student-led collaboration a reality.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Julia, can you outline what some of them are?

  • So you really need to outline these changes in a certain way.

    Rick Beato

  • So can you outline your career a bit for us?

  • Let me just again outline our modelling approach.

  • If you want, I'll outline a complete balanced diet for you.

    Midnight Run (1988)

  • Yes, but before we get to that, I'd like you to outline your methods for dealing with difficult children, if you don't mind.

    Target Number One (2020)

  • In order that the court may better understand the presentation of the evidence in this case, we will briefly outline the evidence and what we expect it to show.

    The Wereth Eleven (2011)

  • All participants were given the same written instructions outlining the rules and scoring of the competition.

    Academic text (2008)

  • In his best bedside manner, he quickly outlined the basics of resuscitation medicine.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to sum up
vsto outline
156 3.3

Give the main points of a talk or text briefly

gives a broader description rather than only concise facts
to summarize
vsto outline
  • US
90 3.0

Present the main points of a text in a short, clear way

gives a general description rather than only a short clear statement
to recap
vsto outline
38 3.4

To briefly repeat the main points

gives a short general description rather than simply repeating points
to sketch
vsto outline
27 3.6

To give a short rough description of the main points

is used for broader description with more structure
to sketch out
vsto outline
9 3.5

Draw or write a short plan showing the main ideas

gives a more complete statement rather than only a rough plan
to synopsize
vsto outline
1 6.4

To give a short summary of the main points

focuses on general description instead of a short overview
to adumbrate
vsto outline
  • Formal
9.9

To give a short general account of the main points

gives a clear general description instead of a brief formal hint

How Detailed

to elaborate
79 4.2
to detail
105 3.1
to describe
∞ 1.0
to outline
148 3.3
sketch
56 3.5
to summarize
  • US
90 3.0

Surface Forms

outline infinitive
outlined past
outlined past participle
outlining present participle
outlines third person singular

Morphology

outline = line (semi-transparent) = out + line

While the components 'out' and 'line' are clear, the specific meaning of summarizing main points is a metaphorical extension.

Etymology

Outline comes from out ('outside') and line ('a mark or border'). A helpful image is drawing the 'main line' of an idea before the details, so to outline is to give the main points or shape of something.