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 will narrate the rise and fall of the historic club."
"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 notesIn plain EnglishTo tell or recount a story, often as a voice-over or written account.
Common pairings
narrate a story
narrated by
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- narrates
- Past tense
- narrated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The documentary is _____ by a well-known actor.
Etymology
Entered English in the 17th century, built on the same Latin root as "narration".
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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