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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:

In a sane world, wise politicians would interpret the results for what they are.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

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

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

Now Johnson said she’s struggling to get her resume and cover letter through automated application readers that may mistakenly interpret her college graduation date of 2025 as meaning she’s had little work experience.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Using images of a male and female with visible differences, we tested five popular AI tools to understand if and how they would interpret the prompt "make this person normal".

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Don't know quite how to interpret this time lag.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

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

Perceptual inference refers to the way the brain interprets sensory information and updates its expectations in response.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

Now, a Jefferies market intelligence analyst interprets the current wobble as one of the last attractive opportunities to build exposure ahead of what he expects to be a strong November and December.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 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

"Our investigator-initiated clinical trial demonstrated encouraging therapeutic efficacy of pantethine as an adjunctive therapy in psoriasis, but these findings should be interpreted as proof-of-concept for clinical feasibility rather than direct mechanistic validation," Zhang says.

From Science Daily ● 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

"For these reasons, the 70 percent storage level value must be interpreted flexibly and considered in light of the overall supply situation," the ministry spokeswoman said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Mourinho was pleased with the defender's performance, saying he had "interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically" and that he and Valverde had "worked very well at this level".

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

So long as orders are phrased as a question, compliance is interpreted as consent.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

This type of logic, which determines the law of the land by interpreting obscure bits of history over utilizing common sense, is what Gladwell calls “bananas.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

Through repeated experiences that challenge familiar expectations, patients may gradually develop different ways of interpreting situations and relating to other people.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 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

The higher your alexithymia score, the more trouble you have interpreting emotions and things like that.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia


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