outline

A short plan showing the main parts of a project, speech, or piece of writing.

• Write an outline before starting your essay.
• She showed us a rough outline of the project.
• The teacher checked our speech outlines.

How to use it: outline of something (Please prepare an outline of your presentation.)

Similar words: plan, framework, sketch

Common phrases: rough outline, project outline, outline of something

The line or simple drawing that shows the outer shape of something.

• Draw the outline of a circle.
• We saw the mountain’s outline against the sky.
• She traced the outlines of the leaves.

How to use it: outline of someone/something (I could see the outline of a boat.)

Similar words: contour, silhouette

Common phrases: outline of something, draw an outline, faint outline

To describe the main ideas or facts without giving all the details.

• Please outline your plan.
• He outlined the main problems in his report.
• The guide will outline what happens during the tour.

How to use it: outline something to someone (The manager outlined the proposal to the team.); outline how/why/what… (She outlined how the new system would work.)

Similar words: summarize, sketch, describe briefly

Common phrases: outline a plan, outline the steps, outline something to someone

To draw a line around the outer edge of something to show its shape.

• Outline the square with a pencil.
• He outlined his hand on the paper.
• The artist outlined each figure in black.

How to use it: outline something in something (She outlined the flower in red ink.)

Similar words: trace, delineate

Common phrases: outline a shape, outline in pencil, outline someone’s face