To inscribe something means to write, carve, or engrave words permanently onto a surface, especially something solid or lasting like stone, metal, or the inside cover of a book. When you inscribe a message, you're creating something meant to endure.

Ancient civilizations inscribed laws and important records on stone tablets because paper hadn't been invented yet. Today, jewelers inscribe names or dates inside wedding rings, and authors inscribe personal messages in books they sign for readers. A trophy might be inscribed with the winner's name and the date of victory. You might inscribe your name inside your favorite book so everyone knows it belongs to you.

An inscription is meant to last, unlike temporary notes. When someone inscribes something, they're usually marking an important moment, honoring an achievement, or preserving words they want future generations to read. That grandfather's pocket watch, inscribed with his initials, carries a piece of family history forward through time.