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characterize

intermediateB2

/ˈkærəktəraɪz/ · char-ac-ter-ize

To describe the distinctive qualities or features of a person, thing, or situation; to be a typical or distinguishing feature of something.

Meanings

verbformal

To describe the distinctive qualities or features of a person, thing, or situation; to be a typical or distinguishing feature of something.

کسی شخص، چیز یا صورتحال کی خاص خصوصیات یا امتیازی صفات بیان کرنا؛ کسی چیز کی پہچان یا شناخت کرانا۔

وصف کرنا

wasf karna

Formal: امتیازی خصوصیات بیان کرناColloquial: بتانا

Synonyms

describeportraydepictdefinedistinguishtypifymarkidentifyrepresentبیان کرناتصویر کشی کرناپہچاننامتعین کرناممتاز کرنا

Antonyms

misrepresentdistortobscureconfusedisguiseغلط بیان کرنامسخ کرناچھپاناگمراہ کرنا

Common Collocations

  • characterize as
  • characterize by
  • broadly characterize
  • accurately characterize
  • characterize the situation
  • characterize a person
  • characterize a period
  • characterize one's behavior
  • best characterizes
  • commonly characterized

Example Sentences

The report characterizes the economic situation as deeply troubling.

رپورٹ میں معاشی صورتحال کو انتہائی تشویشناک قرار دیا گیا ہے۔

Report mein maashi soorat-e-haal ko intehai tashweeshnak qarar diya gaya hai.

Honesty and diligence characterize her approach to every task.

ایمانداری اور محنت اس کے ہر کام کے انداز کی پہچان ہے۔

Imandari aur mehnat us ke har kaam ke andaaz ki pehchaan hai.

It would be unfair to characterize him as lazy simply because he works slowly.

صرف اس لیے کہ وہ آہستہ کام کرتا ہے، اسے سست قرار دینا غیر منصفانہ ہوگا۔

Sirf is liye ke woh aahista kaam karta hai, use sust qarar dena ghair munsifana hoga.

Scholars often characterize the Victorian era as a period of moral rigidity.

علماء اکثر وکٹورین دور کو اخلاقی سختی کا دور قرار دیتے ہیں۔

Ulama aksar Victorian daur ko ikhlaqi sakhti ka daur qarar detay hain.

Easily Confused With

caricature:'Caricature' means to exaggerate features for comic or satirical effect, while 'characterize' means to describe or identify genuine distinguishing features.
categorize:'Categorize' means to place into groups or classes, while 'characterize' means to describe the distinctive nature or qualities of something.
characterise:'Characterise' is the British spelling of the same word; 'characterize' is the American English spelling. Both are correct in their respective varieties.
verbliterary

To be a distinguishing or typical quality that defines or marks something; to be the hallmark of a person or era.

کسی شخص، دور یا چیز کی امتیازی پہچان بننا؛ کسی خاص صفت کا کسی میں نمایاں طور پر موجود ہونا۔

امتیاز دینا

imtiaz dena

Formal: امتیازی شناخت دیناColloquial: الگ کرنا

Synonyms

typifymarkdistinguishdefinestampbrandhallmarkممتاز کرنانمایاں کرناپہچان بناناعلامت بنانا

Antonyms

blendhomogenizegeneralizeobscureیکساں کرناعام کرنامبہم کرنا

Common Collocations

  • characterize the era
  • characterize his work
  • characterize the movement
  • what characterizes
  • that characterizes
  • boldness characterizes
  • creativity characterizes

Example Sentences

A relentless pursuit of justice characterizes all of her literary works.

انصاف کی انتھک جستجو اس کی تمام ادبی تخلیقات کی پہچان ہے۔

Insaf ki inthak justuju us ki tamam adabi takhleequat ki pehchaan hai.

Rapid technological change characterizes the twenty-first century more than any other.

تیز رفتار تکنیکی تبدیلی اکیسویں صدی کی سب سے بڑی پہچان ہے۔

Tez raftaar takneeki tabdeeli ikkeeswin sadi ki sab se badi pehchaan hai.

The deep silence that characterizes the desert at night is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

رات کو صحرا میں چھائی ہوئی گہری خاموشی جو اس کی پہچان بن چکی ہے، حیرت انگیز اور انکسار آمیز دونوں ہے۔

Raat ko sehra mein chhayi hui gehri khamoshi jo us ki pehchaan ban chuki hai, heirat angez aur inkisar amez dono hai.

Easily Confused With

characterize vs. describe:'Describe' is a broader term for any account of something, while 'characterize' specifically focuses on capturing the essential, defining, or distinguishing nature of the subject.

Word Family

character
nounکردار / خصلت
characteristic
adjective / nounخصوصیت / امتیازی
characteristically
adverbخصوصیت کے ساتھ
characterization
nounکردار نگاری / وصف بیانی
uncharacteristic
adjectiveغیر معمولی / غیر فطری
recharacterize
verbدوبارہ وصف کرنا

See Also

💡 Memory Tip

Break it into: 'character' + 'ize'. Think of how an author 'character-izes' (gives character to) a person in a story — describing who they really are. To characterize is to reveal someone's true character.

Imagine a detective holding a magnifying glass over a person's portrait, carefully noting every unique detail — the shape of the nose, the glint in the eye — to characterize the suspect for a case file.

✍️ Urdu Poetry

جو اوصاف کسی کے دل میں ہوں، وہی اس کی پہچان ہے کردار ہی انسان کا، سب سے بڑا بیان ہے

Jo ausaf kisi ke dil mein hon, wohi us ki pehchaan hai Kirdaar hi insaan ka, sab se bada bayaan hai

The qualities that dwell within a person's heart are their true identity; A person's character is their most eloquent self-expression.

Unknown, Unverified

* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.

🗣️ Urdu Proverb

آدمی کی پہچان اس کے کام سے ہوتی ہے۔

Aadmi ki pehchaan us ke kaam se hoti hai.

A person is characterized by their deeds.

📖 Etymology

Origin: Greek via Latin and French "kharaktērizein (Greek) → characterizare (Latin) → caractériser (French)" — to engrave or mark; to describe the distinctive qualities of something

First known use: late 17th century (circa 1660s)

The word derives from the Greek 'kharaktēr', meaning an engraved mark or distinctive feature, which came from 'kharassein' (to engrave). It passed through Latin as 'characterizare' and French as 'caractériser' before entering English. By the 17th century, English speakers used 'characterize' to mean describing or portraying the essential nature of a person or thing.