English Reference

Word

sketch

US/ˈskɛtʃ/

UK/skˈɛtʃ/

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.

“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

masterpiecefinished work

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.”

Synonyms

03to draw quickly

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make a quick drawing of something.

v. to produce a rough or preliminary drawing of a subject.

“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.”

Synonyms

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.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

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'.

Antonyms

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.”
The Guardian 18 Aug 2026
“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.”
The Guardian 18 Aug 2026

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

sketch(C1)

ADJECTIVE

Related words

This entry

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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