characterize

/ˈkærəktəraɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkærəktəraɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz ˈka-rik-/ (ame, mw)

characterize — verb

  • characterizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • characterizeshe / she / it
  • characterizedpast simple
  • characterizing-ing form

1. to describe the main qualities or features of someone or something, usually by s

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to describe the main qualities or features of someone or something, usually by saying what kind of person or thing they are

例句

Film critics have characterized the movie as a funny and touching love story.

characterize + noun + as + adjective phrase

The bank's latest report characterizes the job market as improving but still fragile.

同義詞
  • describe

    More general — does not emphasise picking out the main qualities; can include any details

  • portray

    More vivid — often suggests a subjective or artistic description; common in film and literature reviews

  • depict

    Slightly more formal — often used for visual or written representations

文法句型

characterize + noun + as + adjective/noun

be characterized as + adjective/noun

how would you characterize... (question)

用法筆記

Frequently used with as to introduce the description. The subject is typically a person, a group, or a source (report, study, critic). The how would you characterize...? pattern is a common polite way to ask for someone's opinion.

常見錯誤

❌She characterized him as a honest man.
✅She characterized him as an honest man.
💡Use an before a vowel sound, even when the following word begins with 'h'.

2. when a quality or feature clearly marks someone or something and makes them easy

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

when a quality or feature clearly marks someone or something and makes them easy to recognise as different from other people or things

例句

Bright reds and yellows characterize the artist's early paintings of the Mexican countryside.

active form: subject is a quality or feature

A quiet sense of humour characterized Professor Okafor's way of teaching history.

同義詞
  • distinguish

    More active — emphasises what makes something different from others; often used with from

  • typify

    More formal — stresses that something is a perfect example of its kind

  • mark

    Less formal — suggests a clear, visible sign or feature

文法句型

be characterized by + noun phrase

characterize + noun

what characterizes + noun + is...

用法筆記

Most commonly used in the passive form be characterized by. The active form (X characterizes Y) is more formal and appears mainly in academic or analytical writing. This sense does NOT take an as phrase — that pattern belongs to sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌This region characterizes by hot summers.
✅This region is characterized by hot summers.
💡The passive with by is required; characterize is not used intransitively.