Definitions
01a quick drawing
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a simple drawing that is made quickly and does not have many details.
n. a rapidly executed freehand drawing, often serving as a preliminary study rather than a finished work.
日本語:スケッチ※
“He made a quick sketch of the mountains in his notebook.”
“The artist produced several charcoal sketches of the model before committing to the final oil portrait.”
Antonyms
02a short comedy scene
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. a short, funny performance that is part of a larger show.
n. a brief, often humorous or satirical dramatic piece, typically performed as part of a revue or variety programme.
“The comedy show featured a hilarious sketch about a talking dog.”
“The satirical sketch mocked the recent political scandals, drawing loud applause from the studio audience.”
03to draw quickly
B1 · Intermediate
v. to make a quick drawing of something.
v. to produce a rough or preliminary drawing of a subject.
日本語:スケッチする※
“She sketched the old bridge while waiting for the bus.”
“The architect sketched the initial floor plan on a napkin during the lunch meeting to illustrate his vision.”
Antonyms
04to describe briefly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to give a short description of something without all the details.
v. to provide a brief or general account of a situation or plan, omitting specific details.
“The manager sketched out the new plan for the team.”
“In his opening remarks, the director sketched the historical context of the project before introducing the technical team.”
05suspicious or low quality
C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang
adj. something that feels unsafe, dishonest, or poorly made.
adj. questionable, suspicious, or unreliable in nature; a shortened form of 'sketchy'.
“I didn't want to go into that dark alley because it looked a bit sketch.”
“The website looked a bit sketch, so I decided not to enter my credit card details.”
Usage
Often used as a predicative adjective after the verb 'to be' or 'to look'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sketch” in context.
Verb
01. produce a sketch
“The artist was able to produce a sketch of the suspect based on the witness's description.”
verb + noun
02. sketch out a plan
“Before we start the project, let's sketch out a plan to identify the main objectives.”
verb + adv + noun
Adjective
03. biographical sketch
“The program included a brief biographical sketch of each performer in the ensemble.”
adj + noun
04. preliminary sketch
“The architect showed us a preliminary sketch of the building before finalizing the blueprints.”
adj + noun
05. satirical sketch
“The comedy troupe performed a satirical sketch mocking the current political climate.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. character sketch
“The novelist wrote a detailed character sketch to better understand the protagonist's motivations.”
noun + noun
07. sketch pad
“She always carries a small sketch pad in her bag in case she feels inspired while traveling.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. in a sketch
“The basic layout of the garden was captured perfectly in a sketch by the landscaper.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“All of them have included fellow members of sketch comedy troupe the State and other cast members from Wet Hot American Summer.” “Creating props out of hastily sketched illustrations, he takes a drill to the wall to hang up a picture and hoovers the stage (and some of the audience) with gleeful abandon.” Etymology
From Dutch schets or German Skizze, from Italian schizzo, from Latin schedium, from Ancient Greek σχέδιος (skhédios, “made suddenly, off-hand”), from σχεδόν (skhedón, “near, nearby”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to hold”). Compare scheme.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
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