describe a person physical appearance essay

Essays About Appearance: 5 Great Essay Examples And Prompts

When talking about physical appearance, there are many things to consider; if you need to write essays about appearance, here are sample essays to help you.

Today, more than ever, we live in a world where our appearances have become very important. But, unfortunately, outer beauty, or appearance, is something that can be faked. There are various ways for a person to appear attractive, but inner beauty cannot be faked. 

Sometimes, outer beauty is important – for instance, in fashion shows. In beauty pageants, contestants need beauty and an upbeat personality. It will be difficult for them to win the title if they have negative personalities.

However, inner beauty, our personality, attitude, and behavior toward other people, is the only thing that will remain with us till our last breath. Even after we are gone, people will remember us for our behavior, kindness, and professionalism.

If you are writing an essay about appearance, here are five essay examples to help you get started.

1. What Does “Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover” Mean? By Clay Ramsey

2. essay: finding peace with my body image by rachel armany, 3. nonverbal communication and components of professional appearance by lee caldwell, 4. physical appearance should not be the most attractive thing about you by brianna wiest, 5. why do children from the same parents have different appearances and personalities by kim vande wydeven, essay prompts about appearance, 1. what is physical appearance, 2. what is the first thing you notice about a person, 3. why is physical appearance so important, 4. how does what we wear affect how we feel, 5. how to be happy with your physical appearance.

“Everyone can recall the first days or even months of high school. We all walked through those big castle doors, wondering what this new school was going to be like and who we would meet. I thought I knew who would be my friends. However, as the days turned into months and the months into a semester, I realized that some of my first impressions were completely off.”

Clay Ramsey shares his life experiences that tell us why we should never judge someone based on their appearance; instead, we should take our time to get to know them better.

“I started to notice that my body didn’t look like my friends’ when I was in fourth grade. I remember sitting with my best friend and asking, “Do you think I’m fat?” Given our age and lack of any education or discussion on body image, she was startled by my question and immediately responded, “No, of course not.” But her response didn’t comfort me. I felt like she said those words out of pity. My friend didn’t mean any harm. In fact, she probably meant to make me feel better. But since then, I have been hyper aware of my body because I realized that the way I see myself isn’t the same as how others see me.”

Rachel Armany talks about her life experiences, telling us how difficult discussing body image with other people can be (especially as a young girl and even now as an adult) and how she managed to handle all her struggles. 

“Business dress, personal grooming, body language, and attitude are components of a person’s professional appearance. These things can serve as forms of nonverbal communication and send messages to others about an individual. Before a person ever speaks a word, typically others around them can make judgments and form opinions based on the subtle messages provided by that person’s appearance. These components largely influence how well an individual is received and how well their message is heard.”

Lee Caldwell discusses the different components of professional appearance and how they can affect a person in the business world. 

“In my opinion, the most attractive people are the ones who know that their physical appearance isn’t the most attractive thing about them. They have a certain kind of confidence, they’re usually more fun to hang out with, and they’re the kind of people who are ready to love you for who you are. Not what you are.”

Brianna Wiest believes that your physical appearance shows how you care about yourself, but it should not be the only thing great about you.

“The answer to why this happens has to do with our genes and how they are passed on. Each gene has the instructions for one small part of you. You are who you are because of the particular set of 25,000 genes you got from your parents and the environment you developed and grew up in.

So part of the explanation is easy…you and your siblings grew up in different environments so you are bound to be different. But you also each inherited a completely different set of genes from each parent. This means you are a completely new, never before seen genetic combination.”

Kim Vande Wydeven shares some facts about the human body that enlighten readers who are still wondering about the topic “Why do children from the same parents have different appearances and personalities?”.

This essay discusses physical appearance and how it can be interpreted differently. For some, physical appearance means clothes, make-up, and hairstyles. For others, it is achieving a style or aesthetic.

In your essay, discuss what physical appearance is to you. Include research on how others interpret physical appearance and discuss the differences.

In this essay, discuss the first thing you notice about a person. Is appearance so important that we make our first impressions based on this? Or do we judge a person by their personality?

Discuss the different features that you notice first. For example, perhaps you notice bright and colorful clothes first, hair color, tattoos, and if someone is wearing clean or unclean clothes. This is a topic that opens up a lot of opinions for discussion. 

Your physical appearance is important as it can significantly change your personal and professional life. However, it can make you feel insecure in many situations, regardless of how comfortable you feel in your skin.

In any interview process where you are an exact match with someone else in other aspects, it can also make you a second choice. In your essay about appearance, give more examples of how it can affect one’s personal life and professional life. 

The clothes we wear are a representation of our style and personality. However, due to financial reasons or lack of resources, many people don’t choose clothes based on their looks. Therefore, this poses an interesting essay topic “how does what we wear affect how we feel?”

Discuss how different clothing items can boost or lower your mood and how self-expression can help a person feel more confident. Next, discuss how wearing clothes you don’t particularly like can lower your mood. Finally, delve into the reasons why we can’t always wear clothes we like—for example, strict uniform policy, financial struggles, and lack of eco-friendly and sustainable clothing options.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in what society considers attractive. Maybe you’re not happy with your physical appearance, but it’s probably because of the ideals you see in people on their best days. 

Your essay about appearance should be able to encourage your readers to feel better about how they look. “It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside; it’s what on the inside that counts.” as the saying goes.

Tip: For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

If you’d like to learn more, our writer explains how to write an argumentative essay in this guide.

If you’re stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression .

15+ Examples of Descriptive Essays About a Person

Examples of Descriptive Essays About a Person – Descriptive essay is one type of essay that aims to describe a specific object (animal, person, or other thing) specifically. This text type has a slight difference with report text written based on common terms.

The following essays are some examples of descriptive essays about a person, family members, and famous people.

Table of Contents

Essay 1: My Best Friend Laura

Laura J. Bernal, whose nickname is Laura, is my best friend from my childhood. She has a small body and is quite slim. She has oval face with bright brown eyes and thin lips. Laura J. Bernal has long brown straight hair, but she usually makes her hair with horse ponytails. She looks very beautiful, especially when she smiles. She is always cheerful and looks in a good mood. She is a very positive person. We have almost the same hobby of singing. Sometimes our opinions are the same. She is always energetic and brings positive energy for everyone around her. She is like a part of my family. I trust her just as I trust members of my family. She is a very honest type of friend. She always speaks as she is even though it’s bad. Laura always says what she thinks. We are very close to each other. She can even know whether I lie to her or not. I’m very lucky to have a friend like her.

Essay 2: Larry Page

Lawrence “Larry” Page is one of the most influential people in the world. Page is an American computer scientist; he is also an Internet entrepreneur. He was a co-founder of Google with his friend, Sergey Brin, in 1998. Now, he plays a role as a chief executive officer (CEO) of Alphabets, Google’s parent company. Larry Page was born on 26 th  March 1973 in Michigan. By 2019, his age is 46 years old. His hair is dark brown while his skin is fair. About his family, a research scientist named Lucinda Southworth is his wife. Now, he is a father of two children.In November 2016, he becomes the 12th richest person. Larry’s last education background is a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Here, he met Sergey Brin. Then, they incorporated Google in order to make world’s information easy to access. This company makes him to be one of the successful people in the world.

Essay 3: My Father

My father’s name is David P. Kent. He is a hardworking man. He works as a government employee. His body is tall, like my youngest brother. His hair is black and straight, same as mine. He has brown complexion because he likes working under the Sun. I love talking to my father. He is a wise man who always gives me great advices. We learn about being a hard-worker from him. We love him very much. He is a great father for us.

Essay 4: Bill Gates

William Henry “Bill” Gates III is one of the richest & influential people. In 1975 together with his friend, Paul Allen, he co-founded Microsoft which became the world’s largest PC software company. That is why his name exists in the list of world’s wealthiest people by Forbes. Bill Gates or Trey as his nickname was born on 28 th  October 1955 in Seattle, Washington, USA. By 2019, he is 64 years old. His hair as well as eye color is same, light brown. Bill Gates’ weight is 64 kg with 5′ 9″ height. With his wife named Melinda Gates, they have three children. Besides being the best-known entrepreneur, Bill Gates is also known as a philanthropist. In 2000, he & his wife created Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It was identified as the world’s wealthiest charitable foundation in 2013. Through this foundation, Bill Gates donates large amounts of money to many charitable organizations and scientific research programs.

Essay 5: My Mother

This one is about my mother. Her name is Margaret N. Craft. She has brown complexion and blonde hair. Her height is as same as mine, 5′ 11″. My mother is a tailor. She sews some clothes for women such as shirt, jeans, and skirt. I learn many things about sewing from her. She is a great teacher for me. Every morning, she wakes up earlier than other members in my family. She prepares breakfast for us. She is a tough and patient mother. We love her very much.

Essay 6: Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American computer programmer & internet entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Facebook, a famous social media. His name was in the list of 100 wealthiest and most influential people since 2010 by Time Magazine. About his physical appearance, Mark’s body is 170 centimeters tall with 76 kg weight. His hair color is red while his eyes are blue. Mark Zuckerberg was born on 14 th  May 1984 in New York, USA. Therefore, he is 35 years old by 2019. Mark Zuckerberg has married to Priscilla Chan; they have one daughter named Maxima Chan Zuckerberg.

Essay 7: My Sister

My sister is four years older than me. Her name is Jennifer P. Todd. I usually call her Jennifer. She has the same hair like my mother, black and quite curly. My sister, mother and I have almost the same body tall. Her height is about 5′ 1″. Just like our father, she is a government employee. She wears glasses for helping her see clearly. She occasionally wears contact lenses. We fought a lot when we were kids. She is a kind sister though and I love her so much.

Essay 8: J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling is a British novelist who writes phenomenal fantasy book series of Harry Potter. The books have got worldwide attention. They have become the best selling book series in history. They were sold more than 400 million copies. Joanne Rowling was born on 31 th July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. So, she is 54 years old by 2019. About her physical appearance, her height is 5′ 5″, while her weight is 54 kg. She has blonde hair & blue eyes. She’s married two times; she’s got three children. JK. Rowling is a terrific & successful novelist that becomes the richest woman in England. In fact, once she had become unemployed with a destitute life. By writing Harry Potter books which are loaded with spectacular high imagination, she turns to be very famous and wealthy.

Essay 9: My Brother

My brother’s name is Charles O. Joy. I call him Charles. He is the youngest child in my family. He is five years younger than me. I can say that he has fair skin, round brown eyes and small lips. His hair is black and short like our father. He was graduated from English Education Department in University of Pennsylvania a year ago. He loves music very much. He is very good at playing a guitar. Together with his friends, he plays music and creates songs. I believe that he will be a successful artist in the future.

Essay 10: Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Gail Winfrey is a great talk show host from America. Her well-known talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated television program from 1986 to 2011. Because of this phenomenal talk show, she dubbed as the “Queen of All Media”. She has also been ranked the richest African-American and greatest black philanthropist in American history. Oprah was born on January 29, 1954 in Mississippi, United States. By 2019, her age is 64 years old.  She has 5′ 7″ tall while her weight is 77 kg. During her career, she successfully lost her weight. But then, she gained much weight again. She has brown eyes & black hair. Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty in rural Mississippi. She was molested by her cousin, uncle, as well as a family friend when she was nine years old. At 14, she became pregnant but her son was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. Then, she moved to her father’s house and landed a job in radio. Her consistent efforts led her into the successful African-American.

Essay 11: Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp was born on June 9, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S. He is now 54 years old. He started his career on movie in 1984. His first movie is A nightmare on Elm Street and his last movie is Untitled Fantastic Beast Sequel that would be released in 2018. A long his life, he had been an actor in 48 movies. It means that he had been playing more than 40 characters during his life. Thus, seeing his achievement, he is proper to be the winner of the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for the best actor. Before he became a famous actor, Depp was a musician. The first genre he played was rock music. He is good in playing guitar and writing songs. A long his life, he wrote so many songs for bands, solo vocalist or for movie such as Sweeney Todd.

Essay 12: My Grandmother

I have a grandmother, her name is Mary M. Lewis. I usually called her Granny Mary. Her hair isn’t gray like other grandmothers, but blonde. Her body is quite short, about 5′ 1″. She has brown and bit wrinkly skin. Granny Mary lives in a house with my uncle and aunt. I visit her twice a week. I think she is not that old, because she is 70 years old. However, she still looks fit and strong. She usually goes to the backyard to help my uncle. Sometimes, I go to the backyard with my brother as well and help her pick flowers. We love our grandmother so much.

Essay 13: Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer & song writer. She is known for narrative songs about her personal life. Her songs are very popular, namely Shake It Off, Blank Space, Bad Blood. Taylor Swift has appeared as one of the most influential and powerful women by Forbes as well as Time Magazines. By 2019, Taylor Swift’s age is 30 years old. She was born on December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. This beautiful girl has 5′ 10″ tall & weighs 54 kg. Her hair is blonde while her eye color is blue. Her lips are usually red as she likes red color very much. Taylor Swift is a famous wealthy woman but her life was not always so sweet. She suffered bullying in Junior High School. She said that she got dumped by a group of popular girls in the school. They thought that she was weird because she liked country music. This changed after she moved to Nashville; she becomes a successful singer.

Essay 14: My Grandfather

This one is about my grandfather, my father’s dad. His name is Wayne D. Smith. I usually called him “Gran Wayne”. He lived in a house with my uncles and aunties. He has 10 children, including my father. That’s why we have a very big family. Gran Wayne used to jog every morning. When I was just a kid, I loved to wake up early and went to jog with him. After arriving in one small shop, he bought us a milk and an ice cream. We were so happy at that time. We love our grandfather so much.

Essay 15: A Stranger at Every Morning

I see that mysterious person at every morning walking in front of my home in this last two weeks. I never see him before. Perhaps he is a new comer in this village. He always walks slowly with his two big Doberman dogs as he seems like having a total control of his dogs. He is big and tall man with a long hair and full body tattoo on his skin. I think anybody will be afraid of him. He always uses single shirt and shorts and also black sports shoes when he is walking around with his dog. Usually, he is passing in front of my home around 6 in the morning. He always using headset and put his iPhone or something like MP3 players in his pocket shorts.

Essay 16: Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter that was classified as a post-impressionist painter. He was born on March 30, 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands and died on 29 July in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. At his life time, he was stated as a stupid person who tried and failed to learn painting. Not only that, he was totally poor and suffered. At first, he failed in love and thus made him suffered in life. He failed to be anything like normal people. His failure in love broke his mental and confidence. Before he became a painter, or let say liked painting, he was a protestant missionary in Southern Belgium. His duty was in the coal mine and there he saw the truth about suffering and the truth about his own God. Seeing human suffer he also wanted to experience the same in the name of humanity. He lost his faith and started to paint. Traveling from one place to another, Van Gogh lived in poverty. His life was spent to paint even people said that his art work was a bad art. He also suffered from psychotic and delusion. At the last time of his life, he was at the mental hospital, Auvers-sur-Oise, France. He was depressed and finally shot himself and died two days after that. After his death and the popularity of the discourse on madness, especially the knowledge of the psychotic, his painting became popular and categorized as a high art of post-impressionist painting. Unfortunately, Van Gogh never knew that the prices of his painting are now billions.

These are the 15+ examples of descriptive essays about a person. If you’re looking for descriptive essay ideas about family members, friends, or famous people (such as CEO, writers, or celebrity), then you were coming to the right place.

We hope this helps and thanks for reading!

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Have you been assigned to write a descriptive essay about a person but don't know how to begin?

Writing a descriptive essay about someone can be an intimidating endeavor. It's hard to know where to start, what details to include, and how to capture the essence of the person in words.

This guide will provide you with the basic guidelines and tips to help you craft an effective, descriptive essay about a person. You'll get sample essays to get inspired by and easy tips to follow.

So let's dive in!

• 1. Writing Tips for Descriptive Essay About a Person
• 2. Descriptive Essay About a Person Examples

Writing Tips for Descriptive Essay About a Person

Descriptive essays can be written on a range of themes. For instance you can write a descriptive essay about a place , food or even nature . It's common to write these essays about people, which paints a vivid picture of their appearance, personality, evoking a clear mental image for the reader.

Now that you've seen what a descriptive essay about a person looks like, you're ready to start crafting your own.

Here are some writing tips to help get you started:

Tips for Pre-Writing Phase

The prewriting phase is a crucial stage of the writing process, where you lay the foundation for a successful essay or document. Here are some tips for this stage:

• Choose Your Subject

Before you start writing, take some time to think carefully about who you want to write about and why. Is it a family member, close friend, celebrity or public figure? What do you want to say about them? Who would be the ideal reader for this essay?

Want to write a descriptive essay on other topics? Check out 100+ descriptive essay topics !

• Brainstorm Ideas

Once you've chosen the subject, take some time to brainstorm ideas. Think about their physical appearance, personality traits, hobbies, likes and dislikes, goals and dreams. Make notes of what comes to mind so that you can refer back to them during the writing process.

• Describe Physical Features

Once you have your ideas in place, start by describing the person's physical features. Give a detailed description of their facial features, body type, clothing style and other elements that make up their overall appearance.

• List Personality Traits

Now, move on to listing the person's character traits. Talk about how they act in different situations and what makes them unique as a person. Describe their different personality traits, how they think and how others perceive them.

• Explore Their Interests

Next, focus on their interests and hobbies. Talk about what they like to do for fun, how they spend their free time, or any other activities that make them unique. Here, you may also include their achievements or other important events in their lives.

Tips for Writing Phase

As you transition from the prewriting phase to the actual writing stage, these tips will help you navigate the writing process more effectively:

• Follow Your Outline

Now that you've brainstormed and outlined your essay, it's time to start writing. Stick to the points that you have listed in your outline or notes. Don't get too distracted with other aspects of the person that are not related to your topic.

Getting started on your essay? Check out this in-depth guide on how to create a descriptive essay outline !

• Be Specific

When writing about a person, it's important to be as specific and concise as possible. Don't use general statements or cliches; instead, focus on giving the reader a vivid image of who this person is by using concrete examples and tangible details.

• Show Don't Tell

Weave stories into your essay to give it more depth and make it come alive. Instead of just saying that the person is generous, tell a story about how they donated their time to help out in a charity event. This helps the reader paint a clearer picture of who this person really is.

• Draw Conclusions

Once you've written the essay, it's time to draw some conclusions . What have you learned about this person from the essay? What makes them special? How would you sum up the overall portrait of this person?

Tips for Editing/Revising Phase

The editing and revising phase is where you refine and polish your work. Here are some tips to help you make your content clearer, more coherent, and error-free:

• Check Your Facts

Before you submit your essay, make sure that all of the details that you have provided are accurate. Double-check any facts or dates to ensure accuracy.

• Check Grammar and Clarity

Make sure to review your essay for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes. Read through it several times to check for clarity and readability. This will help make sure that your essay is as polished and professional as possible.

• Get a Second Opinion

Getting another opinion on your essay is always a good idea. Ask an expert essay writer to read it over and give you honest feedback. They will be able to point out any mistakes or areas where the essay could use some improvement.

These are just some basic tips to help get you started with writing a descriptive essay about someone. Allow yourself to be creative and write from the heart. With some practice and patience, you'll be able to create an essay that truly captures who this person is.

Descriptive Essay About a Person Examples

A descriptive essay is an essay where you describe something in detail. A descriptive essay relies on facts and information to describe a subject as it is.

A descriptive essay about a person is often written to describe a particular person. It can be about a person you admire , an acquaintance, family member like mother , friend, or even a celebrity.

Here are some examples to give you a better idea. Download and read them for free.

Descriptive Essay About a Person PDF

Descriptive Essay About a Person Example PDF

Descriptive Essay About a Person You Admire

Descriptive Essay About a Person You Love

Descriptive Essay About a Person Who Changed My Life

Descriptive Essay About a Famous Person

Need more examples? Check out these descriptive essay examples on other topics as well!

Do you need more help writing your descriptive essay? No worries, we're here to help you out!

MyPerfectWords.com is a professional descriptive essay writing service  that specializes in helping students write essays.

Our team of expert descriptive essay writers will work with you to craft a perfect essay. We also offer a range of other services, including editing and proofreading, so that your essay is as high-quality and error-free as possible.

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How to Describe a Person's Physical Appearance

Last Updated: June 5, 2023 Fact Checked

Key Characteristics

Facial features and unique details, creative descriptions, expert interview, expert q&a.

This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,185,163 times.

Describing someone’s physical appearance sounds easy, until you actually try to do it. Whether you want to describe someone you just met to a friend or alert the police about a crime suspect, it’s important to cover key physical details and unique characteristics systematically. If you’re trying to flesh out a character in the story you’re writing, however, it’s equally important to leave details to the imagination as it is to provide them directly to the reader.

• For instance, if you’re trying to describe a suspect to the police, you may have to say something like, “They looked like a man to me, but I can’t be certain.”
• In other cases, you may be able to simply skip ahead to other descriptive elements.

• You can stick to just describing the color of their skin, using terms like “olive,” “pale,” “dark brown,” and so on. Leave it to others to make assumptions if they wish.
• With the exception of "olive" and "peach", you shouldn't compare someone's skin color to food. This is commonly used to objectify people of color.

• For instance, identifying someone as looking 30-35 instead of 30-40 gives a clearer picture to others.
• This is especially important with younger people—a 10 year old looks very different from a 20 year old, after all!

• If you’re able to give a more specific estimate of their actual height, try to do so in 2 inch or 5 centimeter increments—for instance, “she’s between 5’4” and 5’6”,” or, “he was 180-185 cm tall.”

• Describing a person’s size and/or weight can make you seem insensitive, so unless you must do it as accurately as possible (e.g., describing a missing person), stick to describing their “build”—“thin build,” “average build,” etc. [5] X Research source
• Some descriptive terms can be more insensitive in some variations of a language than others. For instance, calling a woman “plump” is somewhat more polite in British English than American English, where it’s better to stick with “large” or perhaps “curvy.”
• If you’re estimating a specific weight, try to do it within 20 pound or 10 kilogram increments if possible.

• Call a person you find unattractive “ordinary” or “plain,” not “ugly.”
• Use “scruffy” or “unkempt” instead of “messy.”
• Use “attractive” to denote good-looking, instead of “beautiful,” “gorgeous,” or possibly even “handsome.”
• “Flabby” isn’t ideal, but it may be the best way to describe someone who is the opposite of “fit,” “toned,” or “well-built.”

• Color: brown, black, blonde, sandy, red, gray
• Length: shaved, short, medium, long, shoulder-length, etc.
• Style: straight, curly, wavy, afro, ponytail, dreadlocks, bun, mohawk, etc.
• Appearance: messy, thinning, frizzy, glossy, clean, slicked, and so on.

• Color: black, brown, grey, blue, green, hazel
• Shape: wide, narrow, bulging, deep set, squinting, etc.
• Eyebrows: color plus qualities like bushy, thin, connected, and so on
• Glasses: note the color, shape, material, thickness, and any tinting

• If you're filing a police report, you may want to mention if they have “rosy cheeks,” “bags under their eyes,” or a “double chin.” Otherwise, be polite and skip these details!

• Instead of saying, “he has a tattoo on his arm,” say, “he has a black and red, heart-shaped tattoo with “Mother” in cursive on his right biceps.”
• If you’re going for a more general description, calling someone “tattooed” will probably get the point across that they have widespread body art. [7] X Research source

• Some of these characteristics bridge the gap between physical appearance and personality traits, but they can help provide a fuller picture of the person you’re describing physically. [8] X Research source

• In British English (more so than American English), calling someone “smart” indicates that they are well-dressed and well-groomed. [9] X Research source

• Instead of writing, “she had long, red hair,” you might write, “her hair licked and lapped in the breeze like a crackling fire.”
• Stating that a person “stood like a mighty oak” conveys quite a bit about their physical appearance and the way they carried themselves in only a few words.

• Consider the difference, for instance, between describing “knife-blade slits for eyes” and “squinty eyes like Popeye’s first cousin.”

• For example: “he barreled through the crowd of people like a wave through a sand castle built at low tide.”
• Or: “she worked her way through the crowd unnoticed, like water filtering through the cracks in a sidewalk.”

• The less vital a physical attribute is to a character, the less vital it is for you to mention it. If it doesn’t really matter if your character is tall or short, or has brown or black hair, leave it up to the reader to decide!

• Be subtle about looking at a person, because staring is rude, and a long up-and-down could start a fight—especially if there's a significant other who's as observant as you! [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Be consistent with the order in which you notice features, and you will remember them more easily. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Try to notice the person's most outstanding quality. Take a step back and acknowledge the first thing you noticed about them: this may be brightly colored hair, a particular height, or something they wore that you found odd. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about describing people, check out our in-depth interview with Lydia Stevens .

• ↑ https://home.chicagopolice.org/about/contact-us/how-to-describe-a-suspect/
• ↑ https://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/appearance/vocab1.html
• ↑ https://englishpost.org/describe-physical-appearance/
• ↑ https://www.carvezine.com/from-the-editor/10-tips-for-writing-physical-descriptions-of-your-characters.html
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-truth-about-exercise-addiction/201706/what-really-happens-when-someone-stares-you

About This Article

To describe a person's physical appearance, start with general information like hair color and length, approximate height and weight, gender, and age range. Then, get more specific by describing features like the eyes, nose, and mouth, and don't forget to include distinctive characteristics like visible tattoos. If you can remember anything very specific about their clothing, shoes, or movements, include those descriptions, too! For tips on being as tactful as possible with your descriptions, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph About a Person (With Examples)

4-minute read

• 7th January 2023

Describing a person or character is difficult for even the most successful authors. It requires a balance of words to make sure they shine through without the language being too heavy. In this article, we’ll look at how to write a descriptive paragraph about a person, share some examples, and talk about different strategies.

1.   Brainstorm Your Ideas

Brainstorming is crucial to any writing process. It’s the process in which you think of ideas for what you’d like to write about. In this case, you’re writing a descriptive paragraph about a person. It’s important to use adjectives to describe the features or characteristics you want to focus on.

One way to come up with ideas for a descriptive paragraph about a person is to go through the five senses. Use the questions below to get some ideas for what you want to highlight about your person.

Appeal to your reader’s senses – smell, taste, sound, sight, and touch

Smell: How does the person smell? Do they wear perfume? Are they doing an activity that would make them have a certain smell?

Taste: Do you associate a certain food with this person? Does it make you think of a specific taste? Can you taste something due to a certain smell they have?

Sound: Do they have a unique voice or laugh? Are they doing an activity that has distinctive sounds?

Sight: What prominent features do they have? For example, think about their dressing style, their smile, or their surroundings. What do you see them doing in your mind when you see a photo of them? What memories do you have of this person? Does this person remind you of something or someone?

Touch: What textures do you see? For example, imagine their skin or clothing. How does it feel if you hug them?

2.   Begin With a Short and Snappy Sentence

Like with any type of writing, you want to hook your reader so that they want to continue reading. In this case, you can use a topic sentence, if appropriate, to introduce your reader to the person. For example:

Or, if you want to be more creative, you can reel them in with a short and snappy sentence about this person. This is called a writing hook . This sentence should focus on a stand-out detail or characteristic about the person you’re describing. For example:

3.   Describe the Person

Now, this is the hard part. But, if you’ve brainstormed plenty of ideas and know which ones you want to focus on, it will be easier. Let’s look at some examples to get a better idea of how to write a descriptive paragraph about a person using the prompt “describe a person you admire.”

Comments: This paragraph is pretty typical of most students. It gives lots of visual details of the person and uses a simile or two (“ Her eyes are like the color of honey” and “Her smile shines like the sun” ). While this strategy gets the job done, it’s not very exciting to read. In fact, it can be quite boring!

Let’s look at how we can rewrite this to make it more exciting.

Find this useful?

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Comments: In this example, we focused on one defining characteristic of the person we are describing — her laugh. This strategy places more focus on the person you’re describing, rather than the adjectives you use to describe them.

4.   Edit and Revise

After you write your descriptive paragraph, be sure to read it over. Read it out loud. Read it in a funny voice. Doing this will help you to hear the words and identify which parts do not work or sound awkward.

5.   General Tips for Descriptive Writing

●  Avoid using too many descriptive words.

●  Remember to show the reader, not tell.

●  Appeal to the reader’s five senses – smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound.

●  Focus on a striking or defining characteristic.

●  Use contrasting details from other people or surroundings for emphasis.

●  Use literary devices (metaphors, similes etc.) sparingly and with intention.

●  Use a hook to reel your reader in.

●  Use a variety of short and long sentences.

●  Practice creative writing exercises to improve your descriptive writing skills.

●  Always edit and revise your writing.

If you need more help with writing a descriptive paragraph or essay , send your work to us! Our experts will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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Master List of Physical Description for Writers

I created this list of ways to describe people

because physical description, when done well, helps the readers see characters in their minds. But sometimes when you’re in the middle of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. I find that describing facial features can be especially tricky!

This long list of physical characteristics is kind of like a character description generator, and it’ll help you when you’re trying to think of how to describe a character’s appearance.

Eyes – General

 For all the words about describing facial features, I’m focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there’s a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions.

heavy-lidded

fringed with long lashes

with sweeping eyelashes

with thick eyelashes

By the way, this post on how to describe (and not describe) the eyes of an Asian character  is really great. Check it out.

Eyes – Color

Brown is the most common eye color by far. Green is quite rare.

chocolate brown

cocoa brown

coffee brown

sienna brown

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cornflower blue

Arctic blue

glacial blue

crystal blue

electric blue

slate blue / slate gray

storm blue / storm gray

silver / silver gray

concrete gray

gunmetal gray

Skin – Color

Josh Roby made a great chart of skin tones and descriptor words, and I got a lot of these words from him. You can get that here .

The quote from N.K. Jemisin interested me: “I get really tired of seeing African-descended characters described in terms of the goods that drove, and still drive, the slave trade—coffee, chocolate, brown sugar. There’s some weird psychosocial baggage attached to that.” 

cream / creamy

rose / rosy

Skin – General

Some of these are better for the face, and some are better for other parts of the body.

translucent

luminescent

with large pores

weather-beaten

Face – Structure

heart-shaped

high forehead

broad forehead

prominent brow ridge

protruding brow bone

sharp cheekbones

high cheekbones

angular cheekbones

hollow cheeks

jutting chin

pointed chin

receding chin

double chin

dimple in chin

visible Adam’s apple

People don’t write much about noses, but they can be distinguishing features for characters!

Cupid’s bow

straight teeth

gap between teeth

gleaming white teeth

Facial Hair (or lack thereof)

clean-shaven

smooth-shaven

mutton-chop sideburns

a few days’ growth of beard

five o’ clock shadow

Hair – General

I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

shoulder-length

neatly combed

slicked down / slicked back

buzzed / buzz cut

widow’s peak

Hair – Color

There are some repeats here from the eye color section!

salt and pepper

charcoal gray

brown sugar

tawny brown

toffee brown

Titian-haired

strawberry blonde

butterscotch

sandy blond

fair-haired

Body Type – General

average height

barrel-chested

heavy / heavy-set

pot-bellied

full-figured

leggy / long-legged

broad-shouldered

sloping shoulders

stubby fingers

long fingers

ragged nails

grimy fingernails

ink-stained

This list and many more are in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plot Ideas, Character Traits, Names, and More . Check it out if you’re interested!

And if you don’t want to miss future writing posts, follow the blog, if you aren’t already — there’s a place to sign up on the lefthand side of the blog. Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing!

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127 thoughts on “ master list of physical description for writers ”.

Thanks, Bryn! This list has sparked a spark in my brain. I haven’t seen one of those for a while. I was getting worried I’d lost my flint!

I’m so glad you like it!

I love this, do you mind if we share on our blog WritersLife.org ?

Thanks for the positive feedback! You can’t reproduce it on your blog, but you can share an excerpt of 200 words or less plus a link to my site.

As a new novel writer all I can say is thank very much for sharing with us this wonderful list.

Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for visiting!

This is amazing! Thank you very much!

Thanks for the kind words–glad it seems helpful!

Reblogged this on looselyjournalying.

Reblogged this on Of Fancy & Creativity .

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Aw thank you for this it helped so much! I’m 15 and I’m trying to write a novel and this was sooooo helpful so thank you a billion 🙂 Best wishes.

Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Good for you for working on a novel, and good luck–I bet it will go great!

Hi, Bryn Thank you for doing these lists. They helped me a lot. Can you make a list on how to describe emotions like sadness or anger.

It’s funny you should ask 🙂 There’s a list like that in my book MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS coming out this fall! I haven’t officially announced it yet, but hey 🙂

You can get a free copy when it comes out if you agree to give it an honest review. SIgn up for my newsletter if you’re interested!

Reblogged this on Kalynn Bayron and commented: Yes! This is great!

Was just looking for this type of lists.Great work.

This is so helpful.

I love your blog, btw. Your posts are informative and/or inspirational.

Are you on any social medial where I can follow you?

Oh, thank you so much! I just checked out your blog — I love the dream casting post! http://sbhadleywilson.com/blog/pull-ideal-cast-2/

I’m @BrynDonovan on Twitter, just followed you!

VERY helpful. I need to get basic descriptions of people done and out of the way to move on with plot. This quickens any details that might have taken me a long time to think through, or strain a sentence. Yuck. I know my females characters would pay attention to lots of physical details. not so with the males. Thanks!

Oh, so glad it’s helpful! That’s always what I’m trying to do with my lists — speed things up. I hate getting stuck on a detail and losing my momentum 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

godsent list! Bryn, I wish you more brains.

Reblogged this on Jessica Louis and commented: This list is beyond helpful. Who knew there were so many eye colors!?

Thanks Bryn your list was amazing. I’m an aspiring writer and it really helped me a lot. When I can I’m going to get a copy of your book. I think it would help me become a better writer. My genre of choice is erotic, but it is so hard to get out there, but I’m hopeful one day I will. It’s what I love to do and I’m going to keep trying.

Hi Beth! Thank you so much for the kind words. If you do get the book, I hope you like it! And good luck on writing erotica — I’m doing a “WIP Wednesday” this Wednesday where you can share a bit of your work in progress, if you like 🙂

That would be great. I have some short stories publish on a site called Literotica. I have some editing issues that I’m trying to work out, nothing a few classes wouldn’t help. How do I share my work.

I am so sorry! I missed this comment before. The next WIP Wednesday on the blog is Dec. 2… if you’re following the blog you’ll see the post! (The follow button is on the righthand side of this page.) Hope your writing’s going well 🙂

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Reblogged this on PRINCE CHARMING ISN'T HERE and commented: what an amazing list! I always have a hard time describing features! words sometimes fail me!

i loved this list! thank you so much for making it! 🙂

So glad it was helpful!

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Thank you! This is so helpful to have for reference. Occasionally I’ll have a particular word in mind and can’t think of it, and I can usually pop over here and find it right away!

I absolutely love your master lists. They have helped me so much in diversifying the words I use when I’m writing. 🙂

Ohhh thank you! That is so great to hear. 🙂 Hope your writing projects are going great!

Thank you, and they are. I’m just about to publish a works I’ve been working on for the past couple of months, which is so exciting. XD Hope all your writing projects are going great as well. 🙂

What a wonderful and thorough list Bryn. Thanks for sharing it! I will at some point ‘link back’ to this fabulous article (I’ll let you know when I do.) I’m new to your site, but will certainly be back for more! I’m fascinated to learn that you’re also a home-grown KC girl. =0) Although, I remarried and moved to California 9 years ago, KC still tugs my heart-strings.

Hey, so glad you like it! Yeah, Kansas City is a special place. Come visit anytime 🙂 And thanks for visiting my blog! — I LOVE your username, by the way. Made me smile.

thanks for following my blog!

Reblogged this on A Bundle of Cute.

Reblogged this on A Blissful Garden and commented: I find this very important!

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Reblogged this on Insideamoronsbrain and commented: Wow!!

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Thanks for sharing this list! It is amazing and so helpful !

I’m going to save this as a favorite. You always provide great information Bryn. Continue with your success.

Oh, thank you so much, Christopher! I really appreciate the kind words. So glad you like this!

This list is so complete! I haven’t worked on fiction in a long while, but lately I’ve been wanting to get back into it. I know this is going to be a great help when i sit down to create my characters!

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This is absolutely perfect for aspiring writers so that we don’t have to use Microsoft Word synonyms that tend to nit have what we’re searching for. Your introductory paragraph about readers falling in love with characters’ personalities and not theit physical attributes was spot on. Thank you thank you, thank you!

Chunny! Thank you so very much for the kind words. I’m so glad you found it helpful!!

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This is amazing! Thank you! I hope it’s alright if I use this as a reference in a blog post for character development.

Hi Jacquelyn! So glad you like it. That’s fine, just please link to the post!

I read this over and over, thank you for creating this! Can I just ask, when thinking of clothing and how to describe it, what are some things you would put? (I’m making a book draft and have never needed clothing described to me as much as now)

Thank you! It’s so important that we don’t reuse the same words too often, so this will help a lot with that problem.

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Thanks for helping me. It really made a big difference of helping me come up with something.

Hi Joseph! Sorry for the delayed reply! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for the kind words!

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Your book “Master Lists for Writers” has helped me incredibly. I’ve always wanted to be a romance writer but didn’t have the nerve until now. I am currently working on a short story about a college girl who is assaulted by a classmate. It was based on a dream I had a few nights ago. I haven’t developed how she gets her revenge on him. I know the story line seems dark but the dream stuck with me so much, I felt the urge to turn it into a story. Thank you again for your awesome book. What a great resource

Rhonda! Thank you so much for the kind words. I am so happy that the book is helpful, and even gladder that you’re going for it and writing! Sending you best wishes on your story!

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Great advice in this post, Bryn! Thank you.

Used this for school! It was really helpful!

Oh yay! So glad it was helpful!

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This is a great list! So comprehensive, and just what I was looking for. I struggle with physical descriptions of people and have a tendency to write the same kins of attributes. So this list is fab!

This is great!

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keep up the good work

Hey thanks 🙂

This is so helpful!!!!!

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Tiptoeing out there to publish my first book (I’ve been writing a long time). This post helped so much. Thanks!

oh my gosh, thank you! You have put a lot of effort in this list. I def appreciate it 🙂

Thank you I´m always using this when I´m creating new characters.

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Incredibly helpful! Thanks a lot :3

Thank you for sharing this!

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More extensive than my general list. My wizened goatee and elder Fu Manchu thank you for sharing your time and devotion to the craft.

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Very useful for ready reference. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Mohan! So glad you liked it!

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I’ve been writing for a while, mostly for fun, but this was the one thing I could never get down, but this list is great! all around solid, and incredibly useful, I see myself using it every time I need to make a new character, good job!

You’re a legend! This is fantastic, thank you!

Hahaha, thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Glad it’s helpful!

I am following your prompts and valuable advice for writing a fantasy teen fiction novel. I think you are amazing. You might not know it but I was able to clear hundreds of my doubts through your help. Please keep up the good work and providing your valuable support to all of us upcoming writers.

Hey, thank you so much for the kind words—you made my day! It’s wonderful to hear that you’re working on YA fantasy. I’m so glad I could help, and I wish you every success!

I honestly would not recommend this as good writing advice. The focus is too much on describing someone’s physical features using analogies for food. That is not a good thing, it becomes trite and overdone. If used sparsely it’s okay but almost every word in this list is food related.

Hi, Larissa! Thanks for taking your valuable time to share your opinion.

You have done a great job preparing this Master List. Those who think such precise words for describing someone hurt their sensibilities, move on to another URL. I appreciate every bit of your effort.

Hi, Pradeep! I am so glad you like the list. Thanks so much for commenting!

Bryn, I love your master list book and use it all the time!

Ohh, thank you so much! I’m so glad it’s helpful!

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This is a godsend. I owe you my soul.

I work 20 hours per day, (regular business and writing the memoir). Just ordered the Master List–seems like having my own research assistant. I may be able to get 5 hours sleep now. Thanks

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No jaw descriptions? ;(

You saved my day with your wonderful, descriptive words! Now I’ve found the perfect features for my handsome male character. Thank you!

That is a lot of hours for books but I guess if you keep pushing it will happen.

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Hi Bryn, thanks so much for this information! I always appreciate your lists because I like comprehensive material all in one location as a reference (then if I decide to break the rules, at least I know what the rules are “supposed to be” first!). Have you considered making comprehensive lists of creative writing genre conventions (tropes, archetypes, settings, devices, etc.)?

Hello, and thank you for the valuable and useful information. I agree with Eleanore regarding the list of genre conventions. I’m more than pleased I found you website.

Thank u so much ❤️ that was so helpful

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How To Write A Descriptive Essay On A Person: Step By Step

• Post author By admin
• March 1, 2024

Descriptive essays are like painting a vivid picture with words. They allow us to delve deep into the essence of someone or something, capturing every detail, emotion, and nuance. When it comes to writing a descriptive essay on a person, it’s all about bringing that individual to life on the page. In this guide, we’ll explore step-by-step how to write a descriptive essay on a person, from choosing the right person to polishing your final draft.

Table of Contents

How Do You Start A Descriptive Essay?

Starting a descriptive essay requires setting the scene and grabbing the reader’s attention. Here are some effective ways to begin:

• Start with a vivid description: Paint a picture with words by describing the setting, person, or object you’ll be focusing on. Use sensory details to immerse the reader in the scene.
• Use an engaging anecdote: Begin with a short story or anecdote related to your subject. This can draw readers in and make them curious to learn more.
• Pose a rhetorical question: Start with a thought-provoking question that relates to your topic. This can pique the reader’s curiosity and encourage them to keep reading for the answer.
• Invoke the senses: Appeal to the reader’s senses by describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. This creates a vivid experience for the reader and sets the tone for your essay.
• Provide a brief background: Offer a brief introduction to your subject, providing context for the description that follows. This helps orient the reader and gives them a sense of what to expect.

Ultimately, the goal is to engage the reader from the very beginning and create a strong foundation for your descriptive essay.

How To Write A Descriptive Essay On A Person?

Pre-writing phase.

Before diving into writing, it’s essential to do some groundwork.

• Selecting Your Subject: Choose a person who holds significance for you. It could be a family member, friend, mentor, or even a historical figure you admire.
• Brainstorming Traits: Think about the qualities and characteristics that define this person. Jot down specific details, memories, and anecdotes that come to mind.
• Gathering Memories: Reflect on your experiences with this person. Recall moments that stand out, whether they’re funny, heartwarming, or profound.
• Determining Tone: Consider the tone and perspective you want to convey in your essay. Will it be nostalgic, admiring, or reflective?

Creating an Outline

A well-structured outline provides a roadmap for your essay, ensuring that you cover all essential aspects.

• Introduction: Set the stage by introducing the person you’ll be describing and stating the purpose of your essay. Your thesis statement should give readers a glimpse of what to expect.
• Body Paragraphs: Organize your essay into paragraphs focusing on different aspects of the person’s character.
• Physical Description: Paint a vivid picture of their appearance, from their physical features to their style of dress and unique mannerisms.
• Personality Traits: Dive into their personality, exploring their quirks, habits, values, and passions.
• Impact on Others: Highlight the person’s relationships and influence on those around them, including anecdotes that showcase their impact.
• Conclusion: Summarize the key traits discussed in the essay and reflect on their significance. Leave readers with a lasting impression.

Drafting the Essay

With your outline in hand, it’s time to start writing.

• Introduction: Begin with an attention-grabbing opening that draws readers in. Introduce the person and provide context for why they are important to you.
• Body Paragraphs: Develop each section with descriptive details and vivid imagery. Use sensory language to evoke emotions and create a sense of intimacy.
• Conclusion: Reinforce the central theme of your essay and leave readers with a thought-provoking insight or reflection.

Revision and Editing

Once you’ve completed your first draft, it’s time to polish your essay.

• Review for Clarity: Ensure that your essay flows smoothly from one paragraph to the next, with clear transitions between ideas.
• Check for Errors: Proofread your essay for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. Pay attention to sentence structure and word choice.
• Seek Feedback: Share your essay with friends, family, or peers for feedback. Consider their suggestions for improvement and make revisions accordingly.

Finalizing the Essay

Before submitting your essay, take one last look to ensure it’s polished and ready to shine.

• Formatting: Format your essay according to the guidelines provided, including font size, spacing, and margins.
• Proofread Again: Give your essay a final proofread to catch any lingering errors or typos.
• Submission: Once you’re satisfied with your essay, submit it with confidence, knowing that you’ve crafted a compelling portrayal of the person who holds significance in your life.

Top 3 Examples of Descriptive Essays About a Person

“my grandmother: a portrait of strength and love”.

In this essay, the author paints a vivid picture of their grandmother, emphasizing her physical appearance as well as her inner strength and loving nature.

Through detailed descriptions of her wrinkled hands, warm smile, and comforting presence, the author captures the essence of their grandmother’s character.

Anecdotes and memories illustrate her resilience and the profound impact she has had on the author’s life, making her a cherished figure to be admired and celebrated.

“The Man Who Built Bridges: A Tribute to My Father”

This essay pays tribute to the author’s father, highlighting his remarkable qualities as a bridge builder both literally and metaphorically.

Through evocative descriptions of his weathered hands, steadfast determination, and unwavering kindness, the author portrays their father as a symbol of resilience, integrity, and compassion.

Anecdotes from the author’s childhood underscore the profound influence their father has had, leaving a lasting legacy of love and strength.

“The Artist of Words: An Ode to Maya Angelou”

In this essay, the author celebrates the life and legacy of Maya Angelou, the renowned poet, author, and civil rights activist.

Through vivid descriptions of Angelou’s commanding presence, eloquent speech, and unwavering courage, the author captures the essence of her indomitable spirit and profound impact on literature and society.

Quotes and excerpts from Angelou’s works illustrate her mastery of language and her ability to inspire and empower others, leaving an enduring legacy of hope and resilience.

Tips To  Write A Descriptive Essay On A Person

Writing a descriptive essay about a person requires attention to detail and a focus on capturing the essence of the individual. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling descriptive essay:

• Choose a Subject You Know Well: Select a person whom you know intimately or have spent significant time with. This familiarity will allow you to provide rich descriptions and insights into their character.
• Brainstorm Descriptive Details: Before you start writing, make a list of physical attributes, personality traits, habits, and mannerisms that characterize the person. Think about specific anecdotes or memories that showcase their unique qualities.
• Create an Outline: Organize your essay with a clear structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Decide on the main traits or characteristics you will focus on in each section.
• Start with an Engaging Introduction: Grab the reader’s attention from the start with a compelling opening sentence or anecdote that sets the scene and introduces the person you will be describing.
• Use Vivid Descriptive Language: Paint a vivid picture with words by using sensory details to describe the person’s appearance, movements, facial expressions, and gestures. Appeal to the reader’s senses to create a vivid and immersive experience.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating facts about the person, show their personality and character through descriptive scenes, dialogue, and actions. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.
• Focus on Emotions and Impressions: Describe not only what the person looks like but also how they make you feel and the impression they leave on others. Capture the emotions and atmosphere surrounding your interactions with them.
• Be Objective and Honest: While it’s important to highlight the person’s positive qualities, don’t shy away from portraying their flaws or weaknesses if they are relevant to the essay. Be honest and objective in your descriptions.
• Organize Your Thoughts: Structure your essay logically, moving from one characteristic or trait to the next in a coherent manner. Use transitions to guide the reader smoothly through your descriptions.
• Conclude with a Reflection: Summarize the key points of your essay in the conclusion and reflect on the significance of the person in your life or the impact they have had on others. Leave the reader with a lasting impression or insight.

By following these tips and techniques, you can create a descriptive essay that brings your chosen person to life on the page and leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

In conclusion, writing a descriptive essay on a person is a rewarding endeavor that allows you to celebrate the unique qualities and impact of someone special.

By following these steps (about how to write a descriptive essay on a person) and pouring your heart into your writing, you can create a masterpiece that truly brings your subject to life on the page.

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How to Describe Physical Appearance

 Writing a character's physical appearance can be challenging to do naturally, especially in a first person POV. These tips help you to describe your characters' looks in a way that naturally integrates with your writing.

1. Use Settings

A natural way to describe physical appearance is to see how the setting affects it.

• Is the cold hurting your character’s fresh scar?
• Is their pallid skin resisting the summer sun?
• Is the humidity making their hair even fluffier?

2.  Highlight Using Clothes

Is your character always wearing a huge cloak to conceal his plague lesions?  Is she constantly wearing tank tops to show off her huge arm muscles?

Instead of just saying “they wore braces” or “she had long black hair” see where you can naturally weave these details into actions.

• Is your character self-conscious and embarrassed by their braces? Have them consciously smile with their lips closed tight to cover their braces.
• Is your character proud of her long black hair? Have her constantly preening it.

You don’t have to do this for every physical   trait, of course, but see where it fits well.

4.  Describe By Contrasting

One way to naturally describe a character is by contrasting them to those around them. For example, perhaps a character feels jealous of their taller, more muscular friend.

Perhaps they feel pity towards their scrawny, ugly sibling. It kills two birds with one stone, and also gives you the chance to sprinkle in a little bit of characterisation.  If you have the Character Workbook , refer to the section on APPEARANCE for detailed advice!

5. Avoid the Mirror

How often do you stand in front of the mirror thinking about how brown your eyes are?  Unless your character is especially image-conscious or something has changed (e.g. a growing pregnancy bump), consider skipping the mirror scene.

6.  Sprinkle Info

It’s absolutely fine to reveal details over time. You don’t have to describe every facet of a character’s appearance as soon as they’re introduced. Consider starting with broad strokes - noticeable or defining details.

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How to Describe Someone’s Physical Appearance in English

Describing a person in English is a common task to talk about.

In the IELTS test, the examiner might ask you to describe a family member or a friend. You might have to describe a colleague or a neighbour.

ESL students seem to get stuck at this fairly simple thing to talk about. So I wanted to create the master plan that you can refer to from top to bottom.

We have a lot of ground to cover so let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

DESCRIBE THE BODY

The first thing to talk about is the body of the person. That means you describe two things — the person’s height and their body shape/size.

In English, we have to be careful about how we talk about someone’s body. If we use language that is too direct it can be considered offensive or impolite to some people. It is always a good idea to take care when describing someone’s body shape or size.

DESCRIBE HEIGHT

When describing someone’s height there are only three ways we can do it.

We can either say a person is tall, medium-height or short.

There are exceptions when someone is very tall so we would say exactly that: very tall. The same if someone is very short — although we have to be careful of saying that to someone’s face. No one wants to be described as very short.

Here we might say one of the following:

He is not very tall

He is a little on the short side

She is not that tall

She is kind of petite

Petite is a French word that means ‘small’. We use this word in English to describe a woman, especially a young woman if she is short and of a small build.

If someone is very tall we might say the following:

He is a giant

He towers over other people

Again be careful when using these terms. We might describe a man as a giant but only in a very friendly, humorous way.

And we should not use these expressions to describe a very tall woman. Often a very tall woman is conscious of being too tall and may not like people to make direct expressions about her height.

So essentially you can say three things to describe someone’s height:

She is medium-height/He is average height

He is short

And the exceptions might be:

He is very tall

She is very short

DESCRIBE BUILD

This is where we have to be careful. In some cultures, people are very direct when describing other people’s bodies. Maybe it acceptable to say that someone is fat in some countries but in an English-speaking country, it is not.

Use sensitive and polite terms and you should have no problems.

The first thing we can say is whether a person is big or small. We might say “He is a big guy”. This could mean a man who is tall and very strong. But it could also mean a man that is overweight.

Using the word ‘big’ is a replacement word for ‘fat’ these days. You might describe someone as fat when you are describing him to someone else but you should never say it to their face.

If we describe a woman as big, it usually means she is overweight.

We might describe a man as small. This could mean that he is short but maybe also quite thin.

A small woman may just be short in height.

This is where you have to be very careful when describing someone.

Both the words fat and thin can be seen as being a little insensitive if used in the wrong context. So you need to use these words with great care.

Rather than say he is fat, we can say:

He is a big guy

He is overweight

He is kind of big

If the person is a close friend or family member, we might say:

He needs to lose weight

He is obese

But generally speaking, we should avoid using this word to describe someone.

The same goes for thin. This word can also have a negative meaning. People rarely use it to describe others as it may imply that they are unhealthy.

Instead, we might say:

She is slim

If you do describe someone as thin, it means they are very thin and possibly unhealthy.

You can use the word muscular to describe someone who regularly goes to the gym and has big muscles.

A woman rarely wishes to be referred to as muscular. Unless she also regularly goes to the gym and works out with weights.

John goes to the gym almost every day, so he is very muscular. He looks like an iron man!

A person you describe as athletic is someone who is slim and has very little fat on their body. You could describe someone who goes running as athletic.

Do not use the word strong to describe this kind of person. Fit is more appropriate.

He goes running every day, so he has a very athletic figure. He looks great!

After we talk about someone’s body — and their height and body shape we can then talk about their head and face.

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DESCRIBE HEAD & FACE

In English, we rarely comment on the size of a person’s head. Unless they have a huge or tiny head! Even then we have to be careful as it can be seen to be a negative comment to make.

But if you do say anything about a person’s head it could be the following:

He has a really big head

He has a large head

He has a big head

Her head is kind of small

She has a very small head

Her head is small for her size

DESCRIBE HAIR

Hair can come in many different colours:

Grey or White

Many people from Asia or Africa have black hair. It is very simple to describe.

He has black hair.

But in many other places, people have different coloured hair.

Brown hair is very common.

But we can say the different shades of it:

She has light-brown hair

He has dark-brown hair

Mousy-brown hair is a kind of boring light-brown colour found in Europe or America. Women might describe their own hair colour as being mousy-brown. It is a negative comment but one that is seen as a little joke.

Blonde Hair

Students often describe this colour as ‘golden’. But we should say blonde.

She has blonde hair.

This is a very rare hair colour, but it does exist.

He has red hair.

Sometimes people might describe someone as a ‘redhead’ — this means someone with red hair.

Do not use the word ‘ginger’ as this is seen as negative.

Grey/White Hair

If someone is old or they are just losing their hair colour, then we can say this:

She has grey hair

His hair is almost white

DESCRIBE FACE

General details.

After we describe someone’s general appearance in terms of their body, we then begin to describe their face.

Positive/Negative

We usually refer to whether or not someone is attractive.

We can describe a man as handsome or good-looking. A woman we describe as beautiful or good-looking. Sometimes people use the word beautiful to describe a man if he has more feminine features.

He is a really handsome guy. Many girls look at him in the street.

She is so beautiful. People always comment to each other how attractive she is.

They are both very good-looking. They look good together.

Sometimes people are ugly but it is rude to say this to someone’s face.

People might use the following terms instead:

He is not very good-looking

He is not so handsome

He is not blessed with good looks

For someone that is neither good-looking or ugly, we might say ordinary looking.

DESCRIBE EYES

After you talk generally about someone’s face and comment whether they are beautiful, handsome or pretty we can look at more details about their face. The first thing we usually notice about someone is their eyes. So that might be the next thing you describe.

We can use the following phrases to describe someone’s eyes:

She has beautiful eyes

He has deep-set eyes (this is to describe a person who has eyes that seem to be deeper in their face)

She has big eyes

He has clear eyes

She is doe-eyed (we use this term to describe someone who has big, child-like eyes. Someone who is doe-eyes often has an innocent look about them)

He has heavy eyes

She has lidded eyes (This is for someone who has heavy eyelids, maybe they often look tired)

He has piggy eyes (Be careful when using this term — it means someone had small eyes. It is largely considered an unattractive look)

We can also say beady eyes, boss-eyed, pop-eyed.

Beady-eyed — we use this to talk about someone who has eyes that make someone look untrustworthy!

Boss-eyed — if someone has eyes that look like they are looking at two different things we use this expression. It is a negative term.

Pop-eyed — to describe someone with prominent eyes that appear to be popping out of their head! Nor a positive term.

The colour of the eyes can be blue, green, grey, black, brown or hazel.

DESCRIBE NOSE

After describing someone’s eyes we then might talk about their nose.

Noses can be big, long or small.

She has a long nose

He has a big nose

She has a small nose

Sometimes people have a bump in the middle of their nose. In which case we say: He has a bump in his nose .

DESCRIBE MOUTH

Then we can talk about someone’s mouth.

Mouths can be big, sexy, beautiful, small or wide.

We often use the word smile to describe someone’s mouth because we use our mouth to smile.

She has a big beautiful smile

She has a very sexy smile

He has a wide mouth

He has quite a small mouth

DESCRIBE TEETH

We often just describe someone’s teeth as being very white and beautiful.

She has really beautiful white teeth, she must brush them five times a day.

Or if someone has very bad, unattractive teeth.

He has terrible teeth, all discoloured and they look unhealthy. He should go to the dentist.

DESCRIBE EARS

Ears can be big or small.

He has big ears

He has very small ears

Or the person’s ears might stick out from their head.

He has sticky-out ears

His ears stick out

DESCRIBE COMPLEXION

When talking about the colour of someone’s skin be careful.

People can be the following colours:

The only people we describe as black are people from Africa or African origin — African-American.

He is a black man

She is black

People from Asia, the Middle-East or from Central America we may describe as being brown.

If someone has light-coloured skin, we do not say:

He is very white

He has pale skin

She is very pale-skinned

She has a light complexion

This is more polite.

If someone’s skin has a darker skin colour, we do not say

He is very black

He has dark skin

He is very tanned

He is has a dark complexion

Sometimes a person might have a red-coloured skin. We can say:

He has a ruddy complexion

He is red-faced

DESCRIBE NECK

We can describe someone’s neck in the following ways:

She has a long neck

He has a short neck

It seems he has no neck at all

He has a very strong, thick neck

The most polite term is to say someone has a long neck. The other terms are considered impolite.

DESCRIBE FACIAL HAIR

You should never say a woman has facial hair! This is very impolite.

But we can say for a man:

He has a beard

He has a moustache

He has a goatee

He has some stubble

DESCRIBE HANDS

If we describe someone’s hands we might say they are either big or small.

He has big hands

She has small hands

But some people’s hands are very gentle and they might have long fingers.

We can say:

She has long elegant fingers

He has an artist’s hands — very soft and gentle

We can describe the skin of someone’s hands

She has soft hands

He has coarse hands like a worker

After you describe someone’s body, their face and maybe their hands then you can talk about their body language and their gestures. Body language is the way a person uses their body when communicating with others.

DESCRIBE BODY LANGUAGE & GESTURES

We can say the kind of body language that the person often uses. Their body language is an extension of their personality.

She always crosses her arms when she is angry with me.

She always greets me with a big smile. She is such a happy person.

He often bites his nails because he is a very nervous person.

James often tilts his head to one side when he is thinking about something or lost in thought.

When she is lost in thought, she always puts her hand to her face.

John is very impatient. He always taps his fingers on the desk if someone is only one minute late.

Mike always seems confused about something, always rubbing his head like he has forgotten something.

Jerry walks around with slouched shoulders — he never stands upright.

On the other hand, Cole walks around like a soldier, back straight and shoulders back. I guess he is a very confident person.

Lucy has quick movements, always moving her hands or head very quickly. She is very nervous, excitable person.

Bill has a very slow way of moving. He never seems worried about anything.

Other Ways to Describe Someone

I have only covered the things you can say to describe someone’s physical appearance — their body, their face and their body language.

But there are many other things you can talk about when describing someone.

Telling stories are also a good way to describe someone – I wrote about that technique here .

And using similarities and differences is another useful method. I wrote about that here .

You can talk about the job they do. This paints a very clear picture of the kind of person they are in the world. For example:

My father is an engineer — we might think your father is a very serious person good at solving problems.

My sister is a teacher — we might regard your sister as a caring person who likes to help others.

Their Hobbies

If you talk about the interests, the person has in their free time this also gives us a very clear picture of the person.

My brother likes to write stories in his free time — he has a very creative mind.

My friend likes to fix cars at the weekend — he is good with his hands.

You can also describe the clothes the person wears.

Special Markings

But you can describe a person’s unique points. The person might have a birthmark or a tattoo. Or maybe a scar. These can identify the person and are often very special.

This covers most of the things you need to say when talking about someone’s physical appearance.

You should practice these things you can say by describing your parents, your brother or sister, and your friends. Keep describing different people and it will become natural to you.

A good way to start is to write sentences in your notebook. This will help you remember the words and phrases you can use.

And always remember the system when describing someone:

Body and Height

Eyes Nose Mouth

Body Language and Gestures

Follow this general rule and you will be fine!

In the IELTS test it is very common to describe someone so please use this guide to help you.

I would be very glad to hear from you so let me know in the comment below.

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16 thoughts on “how to describe someone’s physical appearance in english”.

It is good for students to write notes about what they will cover in the physical part of the description. From there they can expand into other more subtle forms of description. Everything starts with the physical even when it is ‘non’ physical — “a hungry look”.

That’s a great point Leona. Yes, very well worth considering. Many thanks!

Really helpful. Carry-on.

Hi Blen! Many thanks to you – I am glad it was of use. 🙂

HI IS GOOD INFORMATION

Many thanks, Mari! I’m glad it was useful.

Thank you it’s helpful ?

I am very happy to hear that, Menna! Thanks for reading!

EXCELLENT!!! THIS THE BEST I HAVE EVER FOUND!!! CONGRATULATIONS I LOVE YOU WEB PAGE!!!

Many thanks Alfonso!! I am very glad this is helpful to you… All the best!

Many thanks ????

You’re welcome, Youness! Thanks for reading!

Many thanks from Egypt ! My students are stuck and I’ll ask them to pray for you 🙂

Thank you so much, Nehal!

Have to adopt some information, but it’s also good.

Glad it is of use, Madina! Thanks for reading!

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100+ Adjectives for Describing a Person’s Physical Appearance

If you’re looking to expand your vocabulary and improve your ability to describe a person’s physical appearance, then learning adjectives is a great place to start. Adjectives are powerful tools that can help you paint a vivid picture of someone’s looks, from their hair and eyes to their body shape and height. In this article, we’ll explore some essential adjectives for describing a person’s physical appearance, so you can communicate your observations with clarity and precision.

Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance

Learn these adjectives to describe a person to improve your vocabulary words in English.

Adjectives for Describing General Appearance

• Sophisticated
• Fashionable

Describing Someone’s Age

• Young adult

Middle-aged

• Senior citizen
• Octogenarian
• Centenarian

Related : Words to Describe Someone

Describing Someone’s Build

Describing someone’s height.

Medium-height

Words to Describe Eyes

Wear glasses

• Mesmerizing
• Captivating

Describing Someone’s Face

• Heart-shaped
• Diamond-shaped
• Pear-shaped
• Square-jawed

Adjectives to Describe a Person’s Nose

Describing someone’s mouth.

• Gap-toothed

Adjectives to Describe a Person’s Lips

Related : Adjectives To Describe A Person

Describing Someone’s Ears

Examples of Adjectives for Describing Physical Appearance

General appearance.

Her smile was  beautiful , and it lit up the entire room.

• The little girl had  pretty  blue eyes and curly hair.

• The bride looked absolutely  elegant  in her white wedding dress.

• John was a  funny  guy who always had a joke to tell and made everyone around him laugh.

• The little girl with curly hair and big brown eyes was so  cute  that everyone who saw her couldn’t help but smile.

• He was a  handsome  man with chiseled features and piercing blue eyes.

• The actress looked stunning on the red carpet, with her hair styled perfectly and wearing a  gorgeous  gown that showed off her figure.

• She was ugly with the stupid hat.

• She was an  attractive  woman with striking features and a warm smile that made everyone feel welcome.

Adjectives for Describing a Person’s Physical Appearance | Image

Adjectives for Describing Age

• The young boy was full of energy and always eager to explore new things.

• The middle-aged man had a distinguished look with salt-and-pepper hair and a well-groomed beard.

• The old woman had a gentle smile and kind eyes that showed a lifetime of experience and wisdom.

Adjectives to Describe Build

• The athlete had a  well-built  physique with strong muscles and a toned body that showed the result of years of training.

• The handmaiden was a cute plump  woman.

• The model was very  thin , with a slender figure and long legs that made her stand out on the runway.

• I am getting fat because of sitting too much.

• The dancer had a  slim  figure with toned muscles and a graceful movement that made her a joy to watch on stage.

Adjectives to Describe Height

• The little girl was very  short , with tiny feet and a petite frame that made her look much younger than her age.

• The actor was of  medium-height , with an average build and a charming smile that made him popular among his fans.

• The basketball player was very  tall , with a height of over seven feet that made him a dominant force on the court.

Descriptive Adjectives for Describing Eyes

• Her eyes were a bright shade of  blue , with a hint of green that made them look even more striking in the sunlight.

• His eyes were a warm shade of  brown , with flecks of gold that shone in the light.

• The little girl had  small  eyes that sparkled with mischief as she played with her toys.

• Her face was round with chubby cheeks and  big round  eyes that gave her an innocent and adorable look.

• His eyes were a striking  oval  shape, with long lashes that made them look even more alluring.

• Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green and she wore  glasses  with thin frames that complemented her face and gave her a smart and sophisticated look.

Adjectives to Describe Face

• She had a  round  face with rosy cheeks that made her look youthful and adorable.

• Her face was  oval  with delicate features and a graceful neck that gave her an elegant and refined appearance.

• The man had a  square  face with a strong jawline and chiseled features that gave him a rugged and masculine look.

• Her face was  long  with high cheekbones and a pointed chin that gave her a regal and sophisticated look.

Adjectives to Describe Nose

• He had a  straight  nose that was perfectly proportioned to his face, giving him a handsome and distinguished look.

• The old man had a  hooked  nose that curved downwards, giving him a distinctive and unique appearance.

• Her nose was  long  and slender, with a gentle curve that gave her face an elegant and refined look.

• The child had a  small  nose that was perfectly suited to their cherubic face, giving them a cute and innocent look.

• Her nose was  turned-up  at the end, giving her a playful and mischievous appearance that matched her personality.

Adjectives for Describing Mouth

• His smile was infectious, with a  large  mouth and bright teeth that lit up his entire face.

• The child had a  small  mouth with tiny teeth that made them look even more adorable when they smiled.

Words for Describing Lips

• Her lips were  full  and plump, with a natural pink color that made them look sensual and inviting.

• Her mouth was  curved  into a gentle smile that made her look approachable and friendly to everyone she met.

• His lips were  thin  and pale, giving him a serious and intellectual appearance that matched his profession as a scientist.

Words for Describing Ears

• He had  large  ears that stuck out from his head, giving him a distinctive and unique appearance.

• Her ears were  small  and delicate, perfectly proportioned to her face and giving her a cute and charming look.

Examples of General Physical Description

Words to describe a handsome man.

• Charismatic

Words to Describe A Pretty Girl

• Fascinating
• Irresistible
• Breath-taking

Adjectives to Describe A Child

• Bright-eyed
• Rosy-cheeked
• Innocent-looking
• Sweet-faced
• Fresh-faced

Words to Describe An Old Person

• Distinguished
• Weather-beaten
• Experienced
• Silver-haired
• Time-tested

Adjectives that Describe People | Video

Related Words to Describe People in English

• Adjectives List
• Descriptive Words
• Words to Describe Someone
• Descriptive Adjectives
• Negative Adjectives
• Negative Adjectives to Describe a Person
• Adjectives to Describe Yourself
• Personality Adjectives
• Personality Traits
• The Big Five Personality Traits
• Character Traits
• Feeling Words & Emotion Words
• List of Emotions
• Positive Words
• Positives Adjectives
• Positive Adjectives to Describe a Person

A-Z Words to Describe People

• A Words to Describe Someone
• B Words to Describe Someone
• C Words to Describe Someone
• D Words to Describe Someone
• E Words to Describe Someone
• F Words to Describe Someone
• G Words to Describe Someone
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• K Words to Describe Someone
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• N Words to Describe Someone
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• P Words to Describe Someone
• Q Words to Describe Someone
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• T Words to Describe Someone
• U Words to Describe Someone
• V Words to Describe Someone
• W Words to Describe Someone
• X Words to Describe Someone
• Y Words to Describe Someone
• Z Words to Describe Someone
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How to describe a person in english: tips and examples.

• By Matthew Jones

When you need to describe things, ideas, or people in English, finding the right words isn’t always easy. Even native English speakers struggle to find the right descriptive words at times. It is especially hard when you need to describe a person, as people can have very distinctive looks, personalities, and behavior.

Nonetheless, learning how to describe a person is vital to becoming fluent in English. In this guide, we will cover some of the best phrases to describe a person, as well as useful tips to help keep your descriptions positive and friendly!

How to Describe Someone’s Appearance

Talking about how someone looks is complicated for a couple of reasons. First of all, describing someone’s appearance can seem a little rude, even if you’re trying to say something nice. People don’t like to feel objectified (made to feel like an object instead of a person), so it’s important to always keep physical descriptions very positive.

However, if you’re talking with people that you don’t know very well, it’s probably best to avoid describing a person’s appearance entirely.

In any case, here are a few general tips to keep in mind when describing people’s appearance:

• Start with very general descriptions – Using general descriptions will help you describe someone without having to go into specific details. For example, you can describe someone’s appearance by talking about their gender, height, weight, age, hair color, or eye color. However, remember that some people can be sensitive about these descriptions (especially weight and age), so keep this in mind when you need to describe people.
• Try to avoid subjective descriptions – Subjective descriptions can be mean sometimes. For example, describing someone as “fat” or “ugly” is very rude and hurtful. Try to avoid using subjective descriptions whenever possible, especially if you’re talking with or about someone you’ve just met.
• If you need to be subjective, keep it positive – Not all subjective descriptions are bad. So, if you need to give your opinions about how someone looks, try to be as nice as possible! That said, even positive descriptions can feel a little invasive or forward, so use your best judgment when describing people subjectively.

Now let’s look at a few positive appearance adjectives to help get you started!

Adjectives for Appearance: Positive

• Good-looking

As a rule of thumb, using positive adjectives to describe a person typically steers the conversation in a better direction. If you’d like to see some more ways to describe people in a positive way, check out the ultimate list of positive adjectives !

Adjectives for Appearance: Neutral and Negative

Example Sentences

Here are a few example phrases to describe a person in English:

• We look very ______.
• He/She is very ______.
• I think they are ______.
• I hope you don’t mind me saying so , but you are very ______.
• Hopefully you don’t take this the wrong way , but I think you’re ______.
• I don’t mean to sound rude , but you look very ______.

* Important Note: When you speak to someone directly about their appearance, it’s polite to preface (begin) your statement with one of the underlined phrases above. This is especially true if you’re discussing negative traits. These phrases will let the other person know that you’re not trying to be rude or unpleasant. However, this doesn’t guarantee that they will like what you have to say!

How to Describe a Person’s Personality

It’s important to learn how to describe someone’s physical features, but it’s even more important to learn how to describe someone’s personality. Personalities are complex, making them difficult to put into words. Nonetheless, there are plenty of great ways to describe someone’s personality and character traits.

When you’re describing someone’s personality, you should take some of the same precautions that you would when describing their appearance. It’s always best to keep things positive and avoid hurting anyone’s feelings. That’s why positive adjectives are so useful!

Now let’s look at some positive personality adjectives to get you started.

Adjectives for Personality: Positive

• Affectionate
• Sympathetic
• Open-minded
• Compassionate

Adjectives for Personality: Neutral and Negative

• Close-minded
• Untrustworthy

Here are a few more phrases to describe a person in English:

• We are ______.
• He/She is usually ______.
• They tend to be ______.
• I hope you don’t take this the wrong way , but I think you’re ______.
• Hopefully you don’t mind me saying so, but you are very ______.
• I don’t mean to sound rude , but you seem ______.

*Important note: Remember, when talking to someone directly about their personality, don’t forget to include one of the underlined phrases above to help “soften” your words. This will help you sound more friendly and less critical, especially if you want to discuss someone’s negative character traits!

What’s next? 

Real-life conversations are far more nuanced than a word list and definitions. For example, did you know that depending on the tone and the context, a positive adjective could sometimes be used as an insult? Let’s hear what our lead instructor, Anita, has to say about that. 

Ultimately, the only way to master these words is to practice using them in live conversations and getting effective feedback. That’s exactly why we built SpeakUp . Join an engaging live conversation today and get critical feedback on your English, all for free for 1 week. 

Matthew Jones

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How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph

Writing a descriptive paragraph can be a fun and rewarding task, as it allows you to use your creativity and descriptive language skills to paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. Whether you’re describing a person, place, or thing, the key to how to write a descriptive paragraph is to use sensory details and descriptive words to bring the subject to life. 

What is a Descriptive Paragraph?

A descriptive paragraph or essay is characterized by the use of Adjectives. It tells how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, and/or sounds. A good description is a word picture; the reader can imagine the object, place, or person in their mind. When describing a person, you should speak about that person’s physical appearance and personality.

• What does s/he look like? (physically)
• How does s/he dress?
• What does s/he look like? (personality)
• What attracts you to that person?
•  What do you like most about them?

To describe a person, you need to talk about their:

Physical appearance : the way they look like

• Height : tall, short, medium height…
• Build : frail, slim, thin, skinny, stocky, plump, fat, chubby, large, heavy, well-built, fit…
• Age : young, teenager, middle-aged, elderly…
• Face : round, oval, wrinkled, furrowed, dimpled, sun-tanned, fair-skinned, baby-faced, chiseled…
• Eyes : big, round, blue, hazel, small, piggy, narrow, bloodshot…
• Hair : bald; straight, curly, spiky, wavy, black…
• Clothes : casual, shabby, bright, tidy, untidy, messy…

Personality : their psychological traits or attitudes

Intelligent, witty, clever, gifted, brainy…

Shy, timid, introverted, extroverted, optimistic, pessimistic, sensitive, sensible, relaxed, tense…

Compassionate, considerate, courteous, generous, exuberant, practical…

Sociable, quarrelsome, argumentative, logical, rational, easy-going, even-tempered, honest, trustworthy, reliable, sincere…

Tips to help you write a descriptive paragraph

• Choose a subject that you find exciting and can describe in detail.
• Begin by introducing the subject and setting the scene. This will give the reader a general understanding of what you’re describing.
• Use sensory details and descriptive words to help the reader visualize the subject. For example, if you’re describing a person, you might use words like “warm,” “generous,” and “kind.” If you’re describing a place, you might use words like “bustling,” “picturesque,” and “charming.”
• Use vivid verbs and adjectives to bring the description to life and make it more interesting for the reader. For example, instead of saying, “The sky was blue,” you might say, “The sky was a brilliant, cerulean blue.”
• Avoid cliches and try to use original language to describe your subject.
• End the paragraph with a conclusion that ties everything together and reinforces the overall image you were trying to create. This will help the reader remember the subject and the details you included in the paragraph.

An Example of a Descriptive Paragraph (Describing a Person)

(Topic Sentence)  Bob is my best friend at school.  (Supporting Sentences: Physical Appearance)  I’ve known him since primary school. He is a tall person with a strong body. He has a round face with brown eyes. His hair is black and curly. Though young, he looks older than his age because of some wrinkles on his face. He also has dimples on his cheeks which makes him look handsome. Bob usually wears casual clothes. He is not keen on brands and fashion.  (Supporting Sentences: Personality) As for his personality, Bob is a shy and introverted person. He does not like being around people. He is a brainy guy. We call him the geek because of his love for IT. Not to mention that he is an honest and trustworthy person.  (Concluding Sentence)  To sum up, Bob is one of the people I admire most.

Example of a Descriptive Paragraph (2)

When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house with a strange atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the stairway. It was dark, squeaking, and relatively narrow, and its steps were a little high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway was an elegant, middle-aged woman leaning against the wall. I had to pass her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the stairs on the second floor. The woman wore a beautiful dress with a subtle pattern and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me climb up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she did not react. Her face did not change expression, nor did she even blink. She just kept staring at me with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw her again. Now I know that the woman was a dummy. My aunt, who lived in the house, used it for her dress.

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Describing People: A Person’s Physical Appearance

English language has a variety of words for describing people , their physical appearance and way of walking. These words can be categorized into words that describe a person’s general appearance, eyes, ears, face, nose, arms, hair, height and build , etc. In this ESL lesson you will learn how to describe people and their physical characteristics.

The following is an exhaustive vocabulary list , useful for describing a person’s physical appearance . You can search by word or category to find the most suitable word for describing a person’s physical appearance .

Describing Personality and Character

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Physical Appearance - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Physical appearance refers to the observable features of an individual’s body, including their height, weight, hair color, skin pigmentation, facial structure, body shape, and style of dress. An individual’s physical appearance is often a significant aspect of their personal identity and can influence how they are perceived by others. These features can be altered through various means, such as cosmetic surgery, hair dye, and makeup, but they are generally considered a natural part of an individual’s physical makeup. People’s perceptions of others based on their physical appearance often involve stereotypes and biases, which can have negative consequences for individuals who do not meet social norms and expectations regarding body shape and size.

• 📘 Free essay examples for your ideas about Physical Appearance
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• Physical Appearance and Discrimination in Literature
• Although Odysseus physical characteristics
• Physical beauty and inner beauty of Esmeralda and Quasimodo
• The Initial Physical Examination
• Physical Changes in Adolescence
• Physical and Chemical Properties
• Physical Resources
• Physical Education
• Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
• The physical and mental effects of Stress
• Physical development of Children
• Children Physical Development: Detailed Explanation
• Examples of Research Proposal on Physical Activity and Environmental Perception
• Management of Human, Physical and Technological Resources
• The Effects of Phenylketonuria on Physical, Cognitive, and Behavioral Development
• How Social Media Forces a Negative Understanding of What an Ideal Body Should Look Like for a Male and a Female
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• Understanding of What Beauty is

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How to Describe People in English: Appearance and Personality

There are two ways to describe people in English. You can describe people’s appearance and personality.

You can describe a person’s personality by saying things like:

• She is really nice
• They are really cool friends
• We are very friendly people

You can describe a person’s physical appearance by saying things like:

• She is really tall
• She has brown eyes
• She has black curly hair.

Something that you have to keep in mind is that there are positive and negative things that you can say about someone’s personality and appearance so I strongly advise being cautious when using some of the words presented here.

Table of Contents

Vocabulary to Describe Physical Appearance

Personality in english, positive adjectives to describe personality, negative adjectives to describe personality in english, quantifiers about personality in english, how to talk about personality in english, personality conversation questions, first set – personality conversation questions, second set – personality conversation questions, third set – personality conversation questions, exercise: personality adjectives.

Type of Hair

Personality  refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.

The study of personality focuses on two broad areas: One is understanding individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability.

The other is understanding how the various parts of a person come together as a whole.

These are some examples of positive adjectives to describe personality:

These are some examples of negative adjectives to describe personality in English

These are some quantifiers to use when talking about personality in English

These are some phrases to describe your personality in English

These are examples that include some of the positive and adjectives to describe personality in English

• He is  shy , he never talks to anybody
• She is  talkative ,  she never stops talking
• I consider myself  lazy , I don’t like to work hard
• He is always  kind  with new students
• My dad is  optimistic,  he thinks everything is going to be alright
• We are very  bright  students
• They are very  funny , they always make friends laugh.
• She is  quiet , She never says much
• He is  a very  honest  man, he will tell you the truth
• She is  jealous , she doesn’t want others to win.
• I am very  brave , I face dangerous and difficult situations.
• Mike is  clever , he is good at learning things.
• He is an  easy-going  guy, definitely a guy who is easy to get a long with.
• James is so  lucky , he bought a lottery and he won.
• Lucas is  tidy,  his desk is well organized.
• Maria is very  irresponsible,  she never does her homework.

These are conversation questions that can help you talk about personality.

• What makes you happy?
• What makes you angry?
• Are you happy with your personality?
• Are you shy? Do you make friends easily?
• Are you an outgoing person?
• How do you organize files in your computers?
• What kinds of people do you get along well with?
• can you think of ten verbs to describe personality?
• having a great personality makes you attractive?
• What characteristics does a  leader need to have?
• How would you describe a brave person?
• How are male and female personalities different?
• How has your personality changed over the years?
• What personality types are you attracted to?
• How would you describe your best friend?
• How would you describe your husband or wife?
• How would you describe your favorite teacher?
• Do you consider yourself an optimistic person?
• Do you consider yourself a negative person?
• Do you consider yourself a hardworking person?
• Do you consider yourself a confident person?
• How would you describe an easy-going person?
• Can you describe your personality?
• Do you consider yourself a lazy person?
• Are you a patient or an impatient person?
• How would you describe an introverted person?
• How would you describe an extrovert person?
• Do you consider yourself a jealous person?
• Would you like to be different?
• Do you think that you are a selfish person?
• Are you a determined person? Are you a stubborn person?
• How would you describe a courageous person?

Match adjectives with their meanings

Manuel Campos

I am Jose Manuel, English professor and creator of EnglishPost.org, a blog whose mission is to share lessons for those who want to learn and improve their English

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Tricks for Describing a Character’s Appearance (With Examples)

Introducing a new character to your story can be difficult. There’s a lot that goes into it, and to make matters worse, you only have one chance to give readers a good (and memorable) first impression of that character. One of the ways you can do this is by giving them a distinct appearance, but many writers tend to fall short of describing appearance well. 

We’ve all heard the same cookie-cutter descriptions for characters a million times before. Golden hair, a heart-shaped face, a chiseled body, piercing eyes, yadda yadda… The problem with these descriptions is that they’re bland, they’re cliché, and they don’t really help your characters stand out. 

However, if you break from clichés, you can create uniquely vivid descriptions that will give your characters life. There are endless ways you can describe characters, and I’m not going to walk you through how I would describe every single possible human feature (or humanoid, animal, alien, etc). For one thing, that would take too long, but for another thing, descriptions are based on more than just the character’s physical appearance—their personality plays a part too. 

Tips for Describing a Character’s Appearance in a Story

There are a number of things to keep in mind when describing a character’s appearance. Here are just a few general tips before we dive into some more specific techniques for describing different parts of a character’s appearance. 

Don’t Make Everyone a Supermodel

This is probably one of the most (if not the most) important things to remember when describing a character. You should never objectively describe your characters as flawless. Humans aren’t perfect, so if you describe your characters like perfect little supermodels, they just won’t feel authentic. Worse still, they won’t stand out from the protagonists of every single young adult novel out there. You need to make them distinct, and to do that, you need to give your characters flaws . And I mean real flaws, not fake flaws that are actually just endearing traits packaged like flaws. 

Don’t Dump Everything Out at Once

Describing your characters is important, but you need to be able to keep it concise. No one wants to read a 7-page summary of every detail of a character’s appearance. You can go in-depth, sure, but don’t put your readers through a word-avalanche just for them to figure out what the character looks like. 

Remember, you can reveal more about the characters over time. When you introduce a character for the first time, you should focus on the things a person would naturally notice first, such as their face, hair, clothing, voice, and general energy. You can further elaborate on their appearance later when it is relevant, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, and more. 

There is one exception here I want to highlight. If you are telling a story from the first-person perspective, and you want to illustrate a character’s obsession with another person, hyper-fixating on the details can be a good way to show this. It can make the character seem creepy , and it can foreshadow the protagonist doing something bad to the person they are obsessing over. 

Don’t Sell Them Short

Opposite to the point above, you shouldn’t make your introductions too short. To some extent, it can be good to leave some parts of the character’s appearance up to the reader’s imagination. However, you should give them something to help them visualize the characters in the beginning. Otherwise, if you later reveal that the character has dark hair, all the readers that imagined them with light hair might have a difficult time accepting that. 

Descriptions are important, and they help to include a reader in the narrative. Like a well-described setting, vivid characters can help immerse readers into the world and make them part of the story. 

Use Their Personality

A character’s personality can have a large impact on how they are perceived, and therefore should alter the words you use to describe them. Two characters might have similar features, but based on their personality, you would describe them differently. 

For example, two characters might both be tall, but one would be described as “awkward and long” while the other is “towering.” In this case, the characters’ levels of confidence impact how they are perceived. For another example, think about two characters who both have light skin. You could describe one as looking like “porcelain” and describe the other one as “pasty,” depending on their other traits. Those two descriptions create very different perceptions from each other.   

Use the Point of View

If the character in question is being described from the first-person perspective of another character, then the protagonist’s opinions should sneak into the description. Your protagonist probably isn’t going to objectively evaluate the other person—they’re likely to rely on stereotypes, biases, and things they have heard from others about the character they’re looking at. Rely on that to make the description fit into the story more organically. 

Here are some examples: 

• She had no right to have such a disarming smile.
• His expression was empty—just like his head.
• His dark, tangled hair reminded me of a swamp.
• She didn’t even wear any makeup! But even more frustratingly, she didn’t really need it.
• They looked divine… like I wasn’t even worthy to look upon them. 
• He looked like the type of person to stare at his own reflection before getting in the shower. 
• They were short and stocky, but they could still probably beat me in a fight. 

Remember, your protagonist can make speculative judgments about the character they’re looking at. You’re telling the story as they experience it, so their judgments are part of the narrative!

“…he was greeted by the barista—a young teen who had not yet matured enough to be handsome. Once his soft cheeks hollowed and his jaw squared, and the childish optimism fled his eyes, then he would have the chance to smolder. That crooked smile would win over many hearts in the blink of an eye, but not just yet.”  – excerpt from a draft

Keep the Description Balanced

A good rule of thumb when describing characters (or anything else really) is to create a balance of concrete details and flowery imagery. You should alternate between those two, as well as general and more specific details, to make the description flow more naturally, and to make it more interesting to read. 

Imagine reading a description like: 

“His hair was red and curly. His eyes were large and green. He had freckles, but they weren’t that noticeable. He was tall but very thin.” 

That’s so dry, and it’s not fun to read. Compare that to a description that varies how the information is provided:

“His hair was like a massive red bush surrounding two wide, green eyes. Freckles faintly dotted his cheeks, but they were only really visible in the sunshine. His long, lanky body and large hair made him look a bit like a big red lollipop—which was only heightened by his tendency to blush often.”

Wasn’t that a lot more fun to read? Not only does it make the character description more interesting, but it also influences a reader’s perception of what the character is like. Certain words help readers to gauge what kind of person this character is. The first example gives no indication of personality, but the second one uses words like “sunshine” and “lollipop” to associate the character with lively, happy things. Additionally, using words like “lanky” and “blush” suggests that the character is awkward or shy, saving you the time of having to spell that out for readers. 

Give them Something Special

One helpful thing that I’ve learned over the years is that you should give your main character some distinctive feature that sets them apart from the other characters around them. Diverse descriptions are great, but it never hurts to make your main character a little more unique. This could be something like a distinctive scar, a tattoo, a weird eye color, a patch of silver or white hair, a missing or extra finger, a birthmark, or something else along those lines. That can make them stand out more, and it can be a really clear indicator that they are special. 

Although your story won’t suffer if you don’t give your main character a distinct feature like this, it is usually a good bet—especially if you think your story could ever conceivably be adapted into a visual medium, like a comic, animation, or film. That character could become iconic. People may just see your character somewhere and that alone could motivate them to read or watch the whole story. As another plus, it could give you a cool opportunity for your story’s cover. 

How to Describe a Character’s Face

When describing a character’s face, the easiest way to do that is to first break the face down into its essential parts: the eyes, the mouth, the nose, and the facial structure.

So let’s start with the eyes since they are the focal point of the face. Stay away from the descriptions you’ve heard a million times, like “piercing” or “doe-eyed.” The eyes are the window to the soul, and they can tell a reader a lot about a character. Instead of “piercing,” try “icy” or “sharp,” and instead of “doe-eyed,” try “wide,” “innocent,” or “full of wonder/awe.” The goal is to describe the character in a unique way to make it more interesting to read, while still creating a vivid image of that character. 

You can describe the shape, color, and depth of a character’s eyes, but you should be careful not to rely on insensitive generalizations. For example, instead of “Asian” eyes, use “almond-shaped” or “mono-lid.” Not all Asian people have mono-lids, so simply using the word “Asian” to describe the character’s eyes doesn’t actually narrow down what they look like. 

That goes for all the other features of the face, too. Though it is true that some features are more prominent in certain races, nothing is inherent. You shouldn’t rely on the character’s race or ethnic background alone to be the basis of your description. Saying that a character is Japanese or Jamaican without giving other details doesn’t do any more for the character’s description than saying they are European or white. Doing this only encourages your readers to stereotype your characters, even if that wasn’t your intention. 

With that said, don’t get too caught up in describing every detail of a character’s face. Give the most important information, such as the eyes, face shape, scars, and other notable details or imperfections, then move on. If a character has an exaggerated feature, such as a large nose or bushy eyebrows, then that’s important to mention too.

How to Describe a Character’s Hair

There are lots of different types of hair colors, textures, thicknesses, and shines, so try not to make all your characters have the same kind of hair—unless they’re related or part of a small, isolated community, of course. Hair can be curly and blond, sleek and black, coily and auburn, and even dyed wild colors. Making your characters’ hair more distinct will make them easier for readers to visualize, especially if you introduce many characters at one time. 

Beyond the basics, you can use words to describe a character’s hair that reflects who they are as a person. For example, describing a character’s hair as springy or bouncy could indicate the character is upbeat and moves excitedly. Slick, greasy, or wispy hair could suggest an untrustworthy or sneaky character. The words you use to describe the character’s hair will be subliminally applied to the character themself. 

How to Describe a Character’s Clothes

Clothing is an important element of self-expression, and what your character decides to wear can reflect a lot about them. However, unlike with the character’s face, you should not spend a lot of time describing their outfit. For one thing, they’re probably going to change their outfit at some point in the story—likely more than once. Secondly, readers just won’t care unless you give them a good reason to. 

If you want to describe what your character is wearing, make sure to keep it short. If it’s just a simple way of helping the reader visualize the character’s style, present the information objectively and in only a paragraph or two, such as: 

“She wore short-shorts and a denim jacket, and pink thigh-high socks that she had to keep pulling up because they always slipped down to her knees. Her tennis-shoes were white and bulky, as was the belt bag she wore off to one side. This free, laidback style was completed by the two messy buns her faded purple hair was pulled up into.”

However, there are a few times in which you can use clothing to explore more complex ideas in the story. For example:

• An article of clothing might have special significance to a character. It could have been handed down from a relative, it could be a favorite shirt, or it could be meaningful in other ways. That would merit drawing more attention to it. 
• An article of clothing might have special significance to the story. This could be a type of ceremonial outfit, a piece of magical armor, or something along those lines. That would require a more thorough in-depth description of the item. 
• An article of clothing may be unfamiliar to most of your readers, such as a specific cultural outfit or an unusual costume, in which case a descriptive explanation could help illustrate what it looks like. 
• A particular outfit could draw attention to a character, such as an attractive or surprising outfit, that could merit taking more time to describe it (and explain why it garners the character extra attention). 

How to Describe a Character’s Body

Describing a character’s body is fairly straightforward. Like with many other aspects of a character’s appearance, there are a few methods you can use to approach describing their body. You could take the objective approach, which would do just fine in most cases, or you could toy with your readers’ perceptions. 

I’ll start out with a word of caution. Too many times, I’ve seen unrealistic descriptions of characters’ bodies. Whether it’s a waist that’s impossibly thin or muscles like a bodybuilder on a teenager, people tend to push the boundaries of what the human body is even capable of. You need to keep your characters within the limits of what’s actually possible, unless you have a good reason for doing otherwise (genetically modified supersoldier, not actually human at all, etc). 

Now, as with some other aspects of the character’s appearance, you can get away with a simple, objective description, like “tall and muscular” or “short and curvy.” Honestly, that’s usually all you’ll need to do. However, bodies are commonly associated with physical attractiveness, and if attraction is the point of your description, you need to take a different approach. 

Writing about attraction is tough (which is why I go more in-depth about how to write about attraction in my other article, Romance 101: How to Write Characters Falling in Love ). You’ll want to highlight the positives of the character’s body—the elements of them that have caught your protagonist’s attention. Whether it’s biceps, legs, or a large chest, you’ll want to describe it in detail, as well as highlight what it is about them that has the protagonist so interested. Here’s an example:

“He was tall and sturdy, and even in this relaxed environment, his pose held power. The way his shirt stretched taut around his shoulders when he shifted snagged and held my attention—I couldn’t help but stare. Did he pick that shirt on purpose? He had to know the thin fabric clung close to his body, showing off every rippling muscle underneath…” 

How to Describe a Character’s Posture and Body Language

Body language is an often overlooked element of describing a character, but you should give it some thought even if you don’t intend to draw a lot of attention to it in the story. How does your character stand? How do they emote? Do they gesture when they speak? Do they fidget? Try to envision what they look like when they are waiting, actively engaged in a passionate conversation, and when they are uncomfortable. 

People move in different ways, even if they aren’t thinking about it. Come up with a list of movements and behaviors that are typical for the character, and utilize those movements to make dull scenes and conversations more interesting. Instead of just dialogue, you can give readers more to imagine as your character shifts their weight, runs their hand through their hair, or twists the hem of their shirt. This can also help to establish the tone of the conversation.  

A person’s body, personality, and mood will all influence how they move. If you establish a baseline for how the character stands and behaves when they are in a neutral mindset, this will help you keep them consistent over time by casually mentioning their body language throughout the story. As a bonus, it can also help you tip readers off if you want them to notice that something is bothering the character. If you have established that a character is pretty relaxed in most situations, readers will instantly notice if they exhibit anxious body language even if you don’t draw a lot of attention to it. 

For more tips and tricks on writing about body language, be sure to check out Writing Body Language: Bringing Your Characters to Life next!

How to Describe an Attractive Character

Describing an attractive character isn’t all that different from describing any other character. You still shouldn’t make them flawless, but you can put off mentioning their more negative qualities until later—especially if another character is looking at them through rose-colored glasses . 

One recommendation that I have for describing a character who is supposed to be extremely attractive is to keep their description vague. Beauty is subjective, so each reader is going to have a different idea of what “attractive” means. By all means, describe the basics of their appearance, such as hair color, eye color, skin tone, and whatnot, but don’t dive deep into the shape of their features. This will leave a little bit up to the reader’s imagination, and they will fill in the gaps in the character’s description with the traits that they find most attractive. 

Another helpful tip is to utilize the reactions of background characters to establish that the character is, in fact, attractive. Other people staring at the character or nudging and whispering to each other about them would help your reader understand that the character is good-looking, and alter their mental image of them accordingly. 

The Importance of Creating Vivid Visual Descriptions for your Characters

Creating vivid visual descriptions for your characters is incredibly important for a number of reasons. For one thing, being able to imagine the characters will help draw your readers into the story and immerse them in the world. Additionally, by giving your characters more distinct appearances, they will stand out more from each other, and from characters in other stories. The more complex and interesting the character, the more likely they are to stick in a reader’s mind for years after they finish reading the story. 

Good luck with writing your descriptions! I know you’ll write something great.

100+ Useful Appearance Adjectives to Describe People

In this piece, we’ll be exploring a range of adjectives that are commonly used to describe a person’s physical appearance. Whether you’re an English learner or simply looking to expand your vocabulary, this article is for you.

We’ll be covering a variety of different adjectives, from those used to describe someone’s build or height to those used to describe specific features such as their eyes, nose, or mouth. With over 100 adjectives to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect word to describe the people in your life.

So, whether you’re looking to describe a friend, family member, or even a celebrity, our list of Appearance Adjectives is sure to come in handy. Let’s get started!

Appearance Adjectives to Describe People

What are appearance adjectives.

Appearance adjectives are words that describe the physical characteristics of a person, including their facial features, body type, and overall appearance.

These adjectives can be used to describe someone’s general physical appearance, as well as specific features like height, body type, skin tone, and facial features. For example, “She was a tall , slender woman with long , wavy blonde hair ,” or “ He was a muscular , athletic man with olive skin and chiseled features .”

Appearance adjectives can also be used to describe someone’s overall attractiveness or beauty. These can include words like “attractive,” “beautiful,” “charming,” “cute,” “elegant,” “handsome,” “lovely,” “pretty,” “radiant,” “refined,” “stunning,” “vibrant,” and “youthful.” For example, “She had a radiant , youthful beauty that turned heads wherever she went,” or “He was a charming , handsome man with a winning smile .”

List of Adjectives to Describe People

List of adjectives used to describe people’s appearance.

• Middle-aged
• Forty-seven
• Medium height
• Presentable
• Pot-bellied
• Good-looking
• Adventurous
• Well-dressed
• Fashionable
• Magnificent
• Unattractive

These are just a few examples, and there are many other appearance adjectives that can be used to describe people. It’s important to be mindful of the words you use to describe someone’s appearance, as people may have different preferences and feelings about how they are described.

General Appearance Adjectives

Describing physical attributes.

When describing someone’s physical attributes, it is important to use the appropriate adjectives. Here are some common adjectives used to describe physical appearance:

It is important to note that while some of these adjectives may be considered positive, others may be considered negative. It is important to use these adjectives in a respectful and appropriate manner.

Describing Personality Traits

In addition to physical attributes, personality traits can also be described using adjectives. Here are some common adjectives used to describe personality traits:

Again, it is important to use these adjectives in a respectful and appropriate manner. It is also important to note that personality traits can be complex and multifaceted, so it is important to use adjectives that accurately reflect the individual’s personality.

Specific Appearance Adjectives

Facial features.

When describing a person’s facial features, there are many adjectives that can be used. Here are some examples:

• Almond-shaped eyes
• High cheekbones
• Crooked nose
• Bushy eyebrows
• Square jawline

Body types are another aspect of a person’s appearance that can be described using adjectives. Here are some examples:

Hair Styles and Colors

Hair is a defining feature of a person’s appearance, and there are many adjectives that can be used to describe it. Here are some examples:

Skin and Complexion

Finally, a person’s skin and complexion can also be described using adjectives. Here are some examples:

• Fair-skinned
• Olive-skinned
• Dark-skinned
• Rosy-cheeked

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common appearance adjectives used to describe people?

There are numerous adjectives that can be used to describe a person’s appearance. Some common examples include tall, short, slim, overweight, muscular, petite, curvy, and athletic. Other appearance adjectives include beautiful, handsome, cute, pretty, stunning, and gorgeous.

Can you provide examples of appearance adjectives used to describe someone’s physical features?

Certainly! Here are some examples of appearance adjectives used to describe physical features:

• Eyes: almond-shaped, round, sparkling, piercing, deep-set
• Nose: straight, crooked, snub, aquiline, button
• Mouth: full, thin-lipped, wide, small, pouty
• Hair: curly, straight, wavy, frizzy, balding
• Skin: fair, dark, olive, freckled, smooth

How do appearance adjectives differ from personality adjectives?

Appearance adjectives describe a person’s physical characteristics, while personality adjectives describe their character traits. For example, “beautiful” is an appearance adjective, while “kind” is a personality adjective.

What are some appropriate ways to describe someone’s appearance in a professional setting?

When describing someone’s appearance in a professional setting, it’s important to be tactful and respectful. Stick to objective, neutral adjectives such as “well-groomed,” “dressed professionally,” or “neatly presented.” Avoid using overly personal or subjective adjectives.

How can I improve my ability to use appearance adjectives when describing people?

One way to improve your ability to use appearance adjectives is to practice using them in context. Try describing the appearance of people you see in public, or practice describing characters in books or movies. You can also expand your vocabulary by reading and learning new adjectives.

Last Updated on November 8, 2023

3 thoughts on “100+ Useful Appearance Adjectives to Describe People”

Hi my name is ismailkhan samadi from Afghanistan

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