excerpt

American  

[ek-surpt, ik-surpt, ek-surpt] / ˈɛk sɜrpt, ɪkˈsɜrpt, ˈɛk sɜrpt /

noun

1. a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, film, or the like; extract.

   Synonyms:

   part, section, portion, selection

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verb (used with object)

1. to take or select (a passage) from a book, film, or the like; extract.

2. to take or select passages from (a book, film, or the like); abridge by choosing representative sections.

excerpt British  

noun

1. a part or passage taken from a book, speech, play, etc, and considered on its own; extract

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verb

1. (tr) to take (a part or passage) from a book, speech, play, etc

Other Word Forms

• excerpter noun
• excerptible adjective
• excerption noun
• excerptor noun
• unexcerpted adjective

Etymology

Origin of excerpt

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin excerptus “picked out,” past participle of excerpere “to pick out, pluck out,” from ex- ex- ¹ + -cerpere, combining form of carpere “to pluck”

Example Sentences

Yerlikaya shared a video excerpt in which the security forces raided several suspects' homes, some of whom could be seen with their hands cuffed behind their backs.

From Barron's

Podium released excerpts from the audiobook across social media before and right after publication, helping to build buzz.

From The Wall Street Journal

Alongside each photograph she includes verbatim excerpts of hourslong interviews that, she writes, “gave voice to one of the many stories I heard.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Read on for more excerpts of their conversation about the art of adaptation, navigating budget constraints at any scale and much more.

From Los Angeles Times

Smith's testimony to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee was being held behind closed doors, but several US media outlets obtained excerpts of his prepared remarks.

From Barron's

Related Words

• extract
• fragment
• passage
• piece
• portion
• quotation
• selection