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Definitions

interpret

[in-tur-prit] / ɪnˈtɜr prɪt /


Usage

What are other ways to say interpret? To interpret is to give the meaning of something by paraphrase, by translation, or by an explanation based on personal opinion: to interpret a poem or a symbol. To expound is to give a methodical, detailed, scholarly explanation of something, usually Scriptures, doctrines, or philosophy: to expound the doctrine of free will. To explain is to make plain, clear, or intelligible something that is not known or understood: to explain a theory or a problem. To elucidate is to throw light on what before was dark and obscure, usually by illustration and commentary and sometimes by elaborate explanation: They asked him to elucidate his statement. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"I would not interpret these findings as a reason for someone who is responding well to their current antidepressant to change treatment," he added.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026

Such insights are especially valuable in regions where gravity severely distorts space-time, making even the most powerful computer simulations difficult to interpret.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026

When unrest erupts abroad, the U.S. is quick to interpret it as a warning for us.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

It’s bad for democracy to throw raw data at people and hope that they interpret it.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

Mr. Kapasi felt insulted that Mrs. Das should ask him to interpret her common, trivial little secret.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Democrats aren’t necessarily viewed more positively than Republicans right now, but Nabulsi believes they’re at least signaling an open line of communication with a message she interprets as “We are not here with hate.”

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

The immune system interprets this misplaced genetic material as a danger signal, triggering an inflammatory response.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

The new chair has made a point of not providing his own economic forecasts or discussing how he interprets the most recent economic data.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

What those commitments are - and how Iran interprets them - will help determine whether this deal sticks.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

But they also light up when the brain interprets something as pleasurable, even if the behavior doesn’t appear to have the survival value of, say, eating or procreating.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Those values "can be interpreted differently, and I think we have to embrace those differences."

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

Some interpreted this as a sign that investors were taking Wall Street’s lofty expectations with a grain of salt.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

The findings therefore should not be interpreted as proof that drinking extremely hot tea directly causes vascular disease.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Virtually no one at the time, however, interpreted it as Wood intended.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

He interpreted Cluny’s order as the much-coveted promotion to second-in-command.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

But experts warn against interpreting the figures as a prediction of the election outcome.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Until now, interpreting those observations has been difficult without actual rock samples to examine.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Severin added that the retired senior judges and leading barristers, who sat on the Commission, have "spent their careers interpreting complicated facts, dealing with witnesses and applying relevant weight to evidence".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Pène du Bois became deeply attached to Hopper and wrote some selfless essays interpreting and defending Hopper’s art.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

I understood Hebrew well enough to read it, but I had always struggled with actually interpreting the passages.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros


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