defining

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And so, the defining image of the event is Donald Trump—razor in hand and a weird little grin on his face—shaving McMahon bald.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

“As with prior IPO waves, strong demand — not excess supply — is likely to be the defining feature.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

From the Greek philosopher Archimedes shouting “eureka” in his bathtub to the German psychologist Karl Bühler defining the concept of an “Aha!” moment two centuries later, sudden jolts of realization can hit rather quickly.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

The tensions between the U.S. and Israel are becoming a defining characteristic of the current phase of the war, much as unprecedented close cooperation between the two allies marked its beginning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Despite their many differences, all human species share several defining characteristics.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari