inscribe

verb

in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb How to pronounce inscribe (audio)
inscribed; inscribing; inscribes

transitive verb

1
a
: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record
b
: to enter on a list : enroll
2
a
: to write, engrave, or print characters upon
b
: to autograph or address (a book) as a gift
3
: to dedicate to someone
4
: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible
a regular polygon inscribed in a circle
5
British : to register the name of the holder of (a security)
inscriber noun

Examples of inscribe in a Sentence

They inscribed the monument with the soldiers' names. The book was inscribed with the author's signature.
Recent Examples on the Web Most of these are pottery fragments, inscribed, for example, with customs passes or receipts for precious water. Jo Marchant, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2024 Art & Art History Dave the Potter’s Mark on History An enslaved African American in South Carolina did the unthinkable, writing his name on the walls of his vessels—and forever inscribing history. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 Messages are inscribed on the walls of the Twemlow viaduct near Harry Styles' hometown. Kelly Cobiella, NBC News, 23 June 2024 Located on a sloping hillside, the site included a long, low wall made of Deer Isle granite to be inscribed with quotations from Kennedy’s most famous speeches. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for inscribe 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inscribe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inscribere, from in- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of inscribe was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near inscribe

Cite this Entry

“Inscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inscribe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

inscribe

verb
in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb How to pronounce inscribe (audio)
inscribed; inscribing
1
a
: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record
inscribe a name on a monument
b
: to enter on a list : enroll
2
: to write, engrave, or print something on or in
inscribe a locket
3
: to dedicate to someone
inscribe a poem
4
: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible
a hexagon inscribed in a circle
inscriber noun

Legal Definition

inscribe

transitive verb
in·​scribe
inscribed; inscribing
: to set down in writing (as the terms of a mortgage) to create a lasting public record
inscription noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inscribe

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