narrate

verb

nar·​rate ˈner-ˌāt How to pronounce narrate (audio)
ˈna-ˌrat,
na-ˈrāt How to pronounce narrate (audio)
narrated; narrating
Synonyms of narratenext

transitive verb

: to tell (a story) in detail
The children enjoyed the lively manner with which she narrated her life's story.
also : to provide spoken commentary for (something, such as a movie or television show)
The documentary is narrated by a famous actor.
narrator
ˈner-ˌā-tər How to pronounce narrate (audio)
ˈna-ˌrā-
na-ˈrā-
nə-;
ˈner-ə-
ˈna-rə-
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of narrate in a Sentence

The author narrates her story in great detail. a documentary narrated by a famous actor
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is narrated by the figure of death, which sounds gruesome but isn't. — American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 3 May 2025 The book is available in all bookstores, as an ebook, and an audiobook (narrated by Cazzu). — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 3 May 2025 Most impressively, Hawes achieves the tricky feat of processing Jane’s musings — narrated from beyond the grave — and the personal pain often inflicted by them without resorting to melodramatics. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 2 May 2025 The minute-long clip gives a glimpse into many of the ensemble cast’s situations come Season 3, with Carrie Coon’s Bertha Russell narrating at the beginning. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for narrate

Word History

Etymology

Latin narratus, past participle of narrare, from Latin gnarus knowing; akin to Latin gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of narrate was in 1656

Rhymes for narrate

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Browse Nearby Words

narratage
narrate
narration
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Narrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrate. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of narrate for Spanish Speakers

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