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verb B1 Intermediate

narrate

nuh-RAYT

Narrate (verb) means to tell a story or describe a sequence of events, in speech or writing. Example: “The documentary is narrated by a well-known actor.”

verb
1
To tell a story or describe a sequence of events, in speech or writing.
"The documentary is narrated by a well-known actor."
"She narrated her journey across South America in a series of blog posts."

How to use narrate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo tell or recount a story, often as a voice-over or written account.

Common pairings
narrate a story narrated by

Word forms

narrated past tense, narrates singular

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The documentary is _____ by a well-known actor.

Etymology

Entered English in the 17th century, built on the same Latin root as "narration".

Origin: Latin · First attested 1600

Class of 1600 narrate joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →

Related words

Rhymes for narrate

See all rhymes for narrate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “narrate” mean?

The word “narrate” means to tell a story or describe a sequence of events, in speech or writing. In plain terms, to tell or recount a story, often as a voice-over or written account.

How do you pronounce “narrate”?

“Narrate” is pronounced nuh-RAYT (/ˈnæɹeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “narrate” in a sentence?

Here is “narrate” used in a sentence: “The documentary is narrated by a well-known actor.”

What part of speech is “narrate”?

“Narrate” is a verb.

Where does the word “narrate” come from?

The word “narrate” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Latin. Entered English in the 17th century, built on the same Latin root as "narration".

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