1
Core action
Explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
Example
Scholars interpret the symbol in several ways.
interpret
/ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/ · in-TUR-pritverb
Explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
Use interpret to express this relationship precisely: explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
What interpret Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
The results should be interpreted cautiously.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Context helps readers interpret the ambiguous phrase.
Use interpret Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Scholars interpret the symbol in several ways.
The results should be interpreted cautiously.
Context helps readers interpret the ambiguous phrase.
Precision Matters
Interpret overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
interpret
vs.Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
infer
Means to reach a conclusion from evidence and reasoning rather than direct statement.
interpret
vs.Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
articulate
Means able to express ideas clearly, fluently, and effectively.
interpret
vs.Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
obscure
Means not well known or difficult to understand.
interpret
vs.Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
discern
Means perceive, recognise, or understand something that is subtle, faint, or difficult to detect.
Test interpret in Context
They assign and explain the meaning of the surviving words.
1
Because the inscription is incomplete, historians disagree about how to ___ its final line.