outline
The professor asked us to submit an outline of our research paper by Friday.
The professor requested a summary of the key sections and main points of the research paper.
A line or set of lines enclosing or indicating the shape of an object or figure.
The architect drew an outline of the building's facade before adding details.
The architect sketched the basic shape and structure of the building's front before refining the design.
Often used in technical drawings, maps, or artistic sketches to represent boundaries or contours.
A general description or plan giving the essential features of something but not the detail.
She gave me an outline of her presentation so I could prepare questions.
She provided a summary of the main points she would cover in her presentation.
Commonly used in academic, business, and creative contexts to organize ideas.
To draw or describe the outer edge or shape of something.
The artist outlined the figure with a pencil before painting.
The artist sketched the outer edges of the figure to define its shape.
Can also mean to summarize or highlight the main points of something.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Use 'outline' for structure, not content
An outline is a skeleton—it shows the structure (e.g., headings, main points) but not the full details. For example, 'The outline of the essay included an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.'
Gold Rule
Outline vs. Summary
An outline lists the main points or sections in order, while a summary condenses the entire content into a shorter version. For example, an outline might say '1. Introduction, 2. Methods, 3. Results,' while a summary would describe what each section contains.
Word Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense 'line marking the outer contour'): from French *outline*, from *outliner* 'to draw in outline', from *out* 'outside' + *ligne* 'line' (from Latin *linea*).
Usage Notes
As a noun, 'outline' often refers to a simplified or preliminary version of something. As a verb, it means to provide a summary or to mark the outer edges. The word is versatile and used across academic, artistic, and professional contexts.