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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

The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that converts incoming light into signals the brain can interpret.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 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

Brick stares at me, his expression a flashing mix of things I can't interpret.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

Stifel interprets this as meaning between 300 million francs and 400 million francs, which would give the deal an attractive valuation for Lonza.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

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

Rather than attempting to eliminate every pain signal, these approaches aim to change how the brain interprets and responds to the experience.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 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

For the King, or at least this is how Malory interprets him, was the patron saint of chivalry.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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

Even slightly interpreted data is of no use to anyone.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 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

But several Treasury sources took issue with this being interpreted as a promise to do so by the next election.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Others interpreted this lack of clear evidence differently.

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

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

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

Instead of proof, Bacon introduced the concept of interpretation; where before scholars had written about interpreting books, now Bacon introduced the idea of ‘the interpretation of nature’.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton


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