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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:

He’s malleable and clueless about a lot of things, including whether it’s appropriate to interpret a female colleague’s nervous vomiting as an indicator that she’s pregnant.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

The incident highlights the difficulties companies can still face when using AI to speed up or simplify work processes, especially when it is used to interpret words in a specific context.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Instead, the results underscore the difficulty of presenting complex meteorological information in a way that people can readily interpret and use when making safety decisions.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Once they started shooting, Fielder said he and Oppenheim were compelled by details they couldn’t interpret.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

She didn’t know exactly how to interpret Badwa's words and chose her own carefully.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

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

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

The garment interprets the artwork, which may or may not have inspired the garment’s design.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

Saylor was keen to point out “systemically important banks like Morgan Stanley and Citi, all with intent to integrate bitcoin into their operations,” which he interprets as an “embrace of bitcoin as a creditworthy instrument.”

From MarketWatch ● May 6, 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

While previous research has shown that gestures and vocal cues influence how speech is interpreted, much less has been known about how facial movements affect perceptions of confidence.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

At the same time, psychoanalytic theories may offer more detailed explanations of how expectations are experienced emotionally, interpreted personally, and expressed through relationships.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

"At the same time, the warning could be interpreted as stopping short of completely foreclosing inter-Korean dialogue: essentially telling Seoul not to interfere unless it has something substantial to offer."

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

“The investigation remains active and ongoing, and this preliminary assessment should not be interpreted as a final determination of the circumstances surrounding his death,” the department said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

I interpreted it as a warning of disaster.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

However, interpreting these discoveries has been complicated by extensive damage and looting.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 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

Alan Mandell, an award-winning actor, arts patron and arts administrator, was best known for co-founding the San Quentin Drama Workshop and interpreting the plays of Samuel Beckett.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

Those calculations were critical for interpreting the complex X-ray signals and uncovering the underlying behavior of the electrons and protons.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Predictably, the press began talking about “the New Fischer,” interpreting Bobby’s sartorial upgrade as a sign that he’d crossed into young manhood.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady


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