narrate

verb

nar·rate ˈner-ˌāt

ˈna-ˌrat,

na-ˈrāt

narrated; narrating

Synonyms of narrate

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

ˈna-ˌrā-,

na-ˈrā-,

nə-;

ˈner-ə-,

ˈna-rə-

noun

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.

As All In Goes Over Curfew Will Ospreay had the best entrance of the night, with his mum narrating his journey to the top of AEW. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The documentary, named after the yacht of the all-women’s team, is narrated and produced by actors Elizabeth Banks and Hugh Jackman and directed by filmmaker and Olympian Mary Mazzio. — Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 By Wednesday morning at Dollywood, the scent of cinnamon bread filled the air and long lines formed at a theater featuring biographical stories narrated by Parton. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Sting is set to narrate a new documentary portrait of Nino Rota, the Italian composer whose music traversed the worlds of cinema and the concert hall, from Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and 8½ to Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026 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

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

narratage

narrate

narration

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Narrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

narrate

verb

nar·rate ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt na-ˈrāt

narrated; narrating

: relate sense 1, tell

narrate a story

narrator

ˈna(ə)r-ˌāt-ər

na-ˈrāt-,

nə-;

ˈnar-ət-

noun

narrate

verb

Synonyms of narrate

Examples of narrate in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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