Descriptive essays can be an incredibly fun way to stretch your creative writing muscles and practice using vivid language that's rich with sensory details. But if you’re not quite sure where to start, don't worry. Here are twenty-five descriptive essay prompts to help get your creative juices flowing.

What is a Descriptive Essay?

As its name suggests, a descriptive essay paints a picture with words, bringing a subject to life in the reader’s mind through vivid descriptions full of detailed and evocative language.

And here’s the best part: you’re not limited to describing physical objects or people. You can also explore moments, emotions, and experiences. Unlike more formal types of essays, descriptive essays give you the freedom to let your imagination run wild.

For a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to write a descriptive essay, check out our post here. 

25 Descriptive Essay Prompts

Try writing your own descriptive essay today by describing one of these prompts. Use all your senses if you can—what do these places, moments, or experiences look like? What do they feel like, sound like, smell like, even taste like? 

1. An alleyway tucked away in a busy city.
2. An abandoned amusement park.
3. A cozy attic full of memories from the past.
4. The view from a cliff at dawn.
5. A field of wildflowers.
6. The waiting room of a hospital in the middle of the night.
7. A dry desert at high noon.
8. A rainforest during a storm.
9. Snowfall at night.
10. A mountain trail covered in dew.
11. A street musician in the middle of a performance.
12. The Northern lights.
13. A child’s bedroom after a long day of playing.
14. A parent’s face while watching their child perform for the first time.
15. An old pair of shoes.
16. A person sitting alone in an airport.
17. An old leather-bound journal.
18. A cracked phone screen.
19. Getting lost in a foreign city.
20. A wedding dress in a thrift shop.
21. A box of childhood toys.
22. The scents and sounds (or lack thereof) of a library.
23. The anticipation before opening a gift.
24. Watching a thunderstorm from your porch or window.
25. The last goodbye at a farewell party.

Have you ever written a descriptive essay before? Let us know in the comments!

Write a Descriptive Essay Today

Descriptive essays are a fantastic way to hone your descriptive writing skills, experiment with sensory detail, and infuse your work with detail, emotion, and atmosphere. Why not choose one of these descriptive essay topics and dive in today? 

Elizabeth Nettleton

Elizabeth Nettleton is an author and editor currently based in Oxfordshire, England. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she was once so engrossed in her book that she ran into a lamppost.

There is nothing Elizabeth loves more than magic and getting lost in other worlds (except for her family, friends, and pets, of course!), so she primarily writes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her playing with her kids, daydreaming, or trying not to die in a video game.

You can learn more about Elizabeth's projects on her website, or say hello to her on X here.

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