define

Regular
Infinitive
define
Past Simple
defined
Past Participle
defined
-ing Form
defining
3rd Person
defines
define defines defining defined

Define means to state the meaning of, or to mark boundaries. Regular verb: define-defined-defined.

Meanings

  • To state the meaning
  • To mark limits of
  • To characterize

Common Collocations

define clearly define yourself well-defined define the terms defining moment

Tip for Learners

Defining moment is a decisive point. Well-defined means clearly specified. Define yourself means to establish identity.
Present Simple
I define
you define
he/she/it defines
we define
they define
Examples - Present Simple
  • I define success by happiness, not wealth.
  • You define the terms clearly in contracts.
  • He defines boundaries in relationships.
  • We define our goals at the start of each year.
  • They define excellence through their work.
Present Continuous
I am defining
you are defining
he/she/it is defining
we are defining
they are defining
Examples - Present Continuous
  • I am defining the scope of the project.
  • You are defining your role in the company.
  • She is defining the parameters for the study.
  • We are defining what success looks like.
  • They are defining industry standards.
Present Perfect
I have defined
you have defined
he/she/it has defined
we have defined
they have defined
Examples - Present Perfect
  • I have defined my priorities clearly.
  • You have defined the problem accurately.
  • He has defined a new approach to leadership.
  • We have defined our mission and vision.
  • They have defined the genre with their music.
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been defining
you have been defining
he/she/it has been defining
we have been defining
they have been defining
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
  • I have been defining my personal brand for years.
  • You have been defining these terms incorrectly.
  • She has been defining beauty standards through her work.
  • We have been defining our strategy for months.
  • They have been defining best practices for decades.
Past Simple
I defined
you defined
he/she/it defined
we defined
they defined
Examples - Past Simple
  • I defined my expectations at the beginning.
  • You defined the word perfectly.
  • He defined an era with his inventions.
  • We defined the project requirements.
  • They defined the boundaries of the property.
Past Continuous
I was defining
you were defining
he/she/it was defining
we were defining
they were defining
Examples - Past Continuous
  • I was defining the terms when you interrupted.
  • You were defining your role incorrectly.
  • She was defining her goals when priorities shifted.
  • We were defining the scope before the changes.
  • They were defining the market segment.
Past Perfect
I had defined
you had defined
he/she/it had defined
we had defined
they had defined
Examples - Past Perfect
  • I had defined the criteria before evaluation.
  • You had defined the terms before signing.
  • He had defined his legacy before retirement.
  • We had defined the process before implementation.
  • They had defined their values before the merger.
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been defining
you had been defining
he/she/it had been defining
we had been defining
they had been defining
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
  • I had been defining myself through work for years.
  • You had been defining success differently before.
  • She had been defining trends for decades.
  • We had been defining our niche for months.
  • They had been defining the standard for years.
Future Simple
I will define
you will define
he/she/it will define
we will define
they will define
Examples - Future Simple
  • I will define my career by my contributions.
  • You will define the requirements tomorrow.
  • He will define his generation.
  • We will define new standards for quality.
  • They will define the rules of engagement.
Future Continuous
I will be defining
you will be defining
he/she/it will be defining
we will be defining
they will be defining
Examples - Future Continuous
  • I will be defining our strategy during the retreat.
  • You will be defining your role throughout onboarding.
  • She will be defining expectations next week.
  • We will be defining success metrics all quarter.
  • They will be defining policies during the session.
Future Perfect
I will have defined
you will have defined
he/she/it will have defined
we will have defined
they will have defined
Examples - Future Perfect
  • I will have defined my path by graduation.
  • You will have defined all the terms by contract signing.
  • He will have defined his style by his first album.
  • We will have defined our goals by the meeting.
  • They will have defined the category by launch.
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been defining
you will have been defining
he/she/it will have been defining
we will have been defining
they will have been defining
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
  • I will have been defining myself through art for years.
  • You will have been defining standards for decades.
  • She will have been defining fashion her entire career.
  • We will have been defining excellence for generations.
  • They will have been defining the industry forever.
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