sketch
SKEHCH
Sketch (verb) means to make a quick, rough drawing without full detail. Example: “The architect sketched a rough plan of the garden while we talked.”
verb
1
To make a quick, rough drawing without full detail.
"The architect sketched a rough plan of the garden while we talked."
"She sketched the skyline from the rooftop café."
"He sketched out his idea on a napkin."
noun
1
A quick, rough drawing not meant to be a finished piece.
"He made a quick sketch of the old bridge before the light changed."
"I drew a sketch of the room to plan where the sofa would go."
"The artist's sketchbook was full of quick pencil sketches."
2
A short comic scene performed as part of a show.
"Their best sketch on the show was about two confused tourists."
"We wrote a funny sketch for the school talent night."
"The comedy troupe opened with a sketch about airport security."
adj
1
Informal: suspicious or shady in a way that makes you uneasy.
"The empty street felt a bit sketch after dark."
"I left because the whole deal seemed sketch to me."
"That guy loitering by the car looked pretty sketch."
How to use sketch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rough drawing or outline, a short comic scene, or (informally) something that feels dodgy.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
rough sketch
comedy sketch
sketch out a plan
character sketch
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sketch.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- sketches
- Third person singular
- sketches
- Past tense
- sketched
- Comparative
- more sketch
- Superlative
- most sketch
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The architect _____ a rough plan of the garden while we talked.
Etymology
From Dutch "schets," tracing back through Italian "schizzo" to Greek "skhedios," meaning "done off-hand" or "made suddenly."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sketch
See all rhymes for sketch →Frequently asked questions
What does “sketch” mean?
The word “sketch” means to make a quick, rough drawing without full detail. In plain terms, a rough drawing or outline, a short comic scene, or (informally) something that feels dodgy.
How do you pronounce “sketch”?
“Sketch” is pronounced SKEHCH (/ˈskɛt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sketch” in a sentence?
Here is “sketch” used in a sentence: “She sketched the skyline from the rooftop café.”
What part of speech is “sketch”?
Depending on how it is used, “sketch” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “sketch” come from?
The word “sketch” comes from Dutch. From Dutch "schets," tracing back through Italian "schizzo" to Greek "skhedios," meaning "done off-hand" or "made suddenly.".
Is “sketch” a common word?
“Sketch” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sketch” have?
“Sketch” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a quick, rough drawing without full detail.
What is the difference between a sketch and a drawing?
A sketch is a quick, rough drawing made without full detail, often as preparation for later work. A drawing can be anything from a rough outline to a fully finished, detailed piece — so every sketch is a drawing, but not every drawing is a sketch.
What is the difference between a sketch and a skit?
Both are short comic scenes performed as part of a show. Sketch is the standard term in professional comedy — as in sketch shows — while skit tends to describe shorter, more informal or amateur performances, such as those at a school event.
What is the difference between sketch and sketchy?
Sketchy is the usual informal adjective meaning suspicious, shady, or unsafe-feeling: "a sketchy neighbourhood". Sketch is a clipped slang variant with the same meaning — "that alley looks sketch" — heard mainly in casual American speech.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sketch:
