1. to describe the distinctive qualities or features of someone or something
2. to be a typical feature or quality of someone or something

Examples

• The report characterizes the economy as unstable.
• How would you characterize their relationship?
• Violence characterizes many of his films.
• The teacher characterized the student as hardworking and dedicated.
• Rapid growth characterizes this stage of development.
• Critics characterized the policy as unfair to working families.
• What qualities characterize a good leader?
• The novel is characterized by its complex plot structure.