define to

USAGE SUMMARY

"define to" is not correct and not usable in written English.
You would need to use "define" followed by a word or phrase in order to make a valid sentence. For example, "We need to define success before attempting to reach it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Targets help us define to government the value for that public money and quite rightly so.

The Guardian

She is, in short, "kickass", a word she has been trying to define to a German journalist without success.

The Guardian - Film

But garlic stands shoulder to shoulder with such essentials, able to enhance and define, to add both sweetness and savour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the highlighter appears, either press "Define" to look up that particular word, or touch and drag the blue markers to widen your selection.

The Guardian

What is happening in Russia right now is going to define, to a large degree, the future of the aids epidemic globally.

The New Yorker

The erosion and continued movement of these faulted blocks, together with the continuing volcanism of the North Island, define to a large extent the landscape of the country.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Baz said he wanted to persuade the administration to more clearly define to both sides in an even-handed way what was needed to proceed with implementation of a report by the former Democratic senator, George J. Mitchell.

The New York Times

Legally, it seems clear that Brookfield has the right to enforce "reasonable" rules of conduct in the park, which it can define to include not sleeping there or creating a camp.

The New Yorker

Though restrained in tone, the report charged that officers engaged in widespread racial profiling, and it recommended the appointment of an independent "entity," which it did not define, to prosecute officers charged with serious offenses against civilians.

The New York Times

"Now your government proposes to use 'national security' (a term you have failed to define) to redact/censor official reports into the deaths of our loved ones BEFORE they are provided to us.

The Guardian

We define to be the steady state probabilities of.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to define something, ensure you use the correct grammatical structure. Prefer using "define as" or rephrasing to include a noun phrase after "define".

Common error

Avoid using "define to" in academic or professional writing. This construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for alternatives like "define as" or rephrase your sentence to maintain clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "define to" functions as a verb phrase that attempts to express the act of defining something. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is grammatically incorrect and not standard English. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate common misuses, particularly in scientific and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "define to" appears frequently across various sources, including scientific and news media, it's crucial to recognize that, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect. The intended purpose is usually to clarify or specify a definition, but this aim is undermined by the improper construction. Correct alternatives, such as "define as" or rephrasing the sentence, are essential for maintaining clarity and grammatical accuracy in formal writing. Always prioritize grammatical correctness over common misuse, especially in professional and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

define as

Replaces "to" with "as", which is grammatically correct when specifying a definition.

establish the meaning of

Replaces the verb "define" with a phrase emphasizing the act of determining meaning.

specify the definition of

Emphasizes the act of specifying a particular definition.

clarify the meaning of

Focuses on making the meaning clearer.

determine the boundaries of

Highlights the act of setting limits or scope.

explain the concept of

Shifts the focus to explaining a concept rather than just defining it.

elucidate the nature of

Offers a more formal way to clarify or explain something.

articulate the significance of

Emphasizes the importance of clearly expressing the meaning or importance of something.

interpret the essence of

Suggests a deeper understanding and explanation of the core meaning.

characterize the features of

Focuses on describing the distinct qualities or characteristics of something.

FAQs

How should I properly use the word "define" in a sentence?

The word "define" should be followed by a noun or noun phrase that you are defining. For example, "We need to define success" or "Let's define the key terms".

What are some correct alternatives to the incorrect phrase "define to"?

Instead of "define to", you can use phrases like "define as", "establish the meaning of", or "specify the definition of" depending on the context.

Is the phrase "define to" ever considered grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "define to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's best to avoid using it in formal writing or speech.

What is the difference between "define as" and the incorrect phrase "define to"?

"Define as" is a grammatically correct construction used to specify what something is understood to be. "Define to" is not a recognized or correct usage in English.