interpret

[ in-tur-prit ]

/ ɪnˈtɜr prɪt /

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See synonyms for: interpret / interpreted / interpreting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to give or provide the meaning of; explain; explicate; elucidate: to interpret the hidden meaning of a parable.

to construe or understand in a particular way: to interpret a reply as favorable.

to bring out the meaning of (a dramatic work, music, etc.) by performance or execution.

to perform or render (a song, role in a play, etc.) according to one's own understanding or sensitivity: The actor interpreted Lear as a weak, pitiful old man.

to translate orally.

Computers.

to use an interpreter to transform (a program written in a high-level language) into a sequence of machine actions, one statement at a time, executing each statement immediately before going on to transform the next one.
to read (the patterns of holes in punched cards) with an interpreter, printing the interpreted data on the same cards so that they can be read more conveniently by people.

Origin of interpret

1350–1400; Middle English interpreten<Latin interpretārī, derivative of interpret- (stem of interpres) explainer

OTHER WORDS FROM interpret

in·ter·pret·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·pret·a·bil·i·ty, in·ter·pret·a·ble·ness, nounin·ter·pret·a·bly, adverbnon·in·ter·pret·a·bil·i·ty, noun

non·in·ter·pret·a·ble, adjectivepre·in·ter·pret, verb (used with object)re·in·ter·pret, verbself-in·ter·pret·ed, adjectiveself-in·ter·pret·ing, adjectiveun·in·ter·pret·a·ble, adjectiveun·in·ter·pret·ed, adjectivewell-in·ter·pret·ed, adjective

Words nearby interpret

interpolar, interpolate, interpolation, interpose, interposition, interpret, interpretation, interpretative, interpreted language, interpreter, interpretive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say interpret?

To interpret is to give or provide the meaning of something, or to construe or understand something in a particular way. What’s the difference between interpret, elucidate, expound, and explain? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use interpret in a sentence

For instance, I think of teenagers as being really willing to ask questions that some people interpret as sensitive.
Can I Ask You a Ridiculously Personal Question? (Ep. 451)|Stephen J. Dubner|February 11, 2021|Freakonomics
Others described how they have to take their children with them everywhere they go to interpret for them.
African Communities Warn Language Issues Could Shut Them Out of Redistricting|Maya Srikrishnan|February 10, 2021|Voice of San Diego
There are some people who would say he should not have a platform on social media because they disagree strongly with how he interprets the data.
Twenty-Six Words Created the Internet. What Will It Take to Save It?|Stephen Engelberg|February 9, 2021|ProPublica
While it might seem like the law is the law, what’s far more important than what is written in the law or SEC regulations is how the law is interpreted, which is really about the sociology of attorneys.
PSA: Most aggregate VC trend data is garbage|Danny Crichton|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch

That’s in part because the findings establish evidence in a way that the legal system can interpret.
A looming climate disaster threatens the lives of 6,000 Peruvians|Philip Kiefer|February 9, 2021|Popular-Science
The impulse to interpret seems to me what makes personal essay writing compelling.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Testino explains, he decided to interpret each of the pillars via six unique characters.
The Restaurant, Flask, And Photography Worthy of The Macallan Whisky||December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first story featured a man who hires Dr. Strange to help interpret his troubled dreams.
The Flying Sorcery of Dr. Strange: Benedict Cumberbatch Is Marvel's Most Bizarre Magician|Rich Goldstein|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many Muslims may disagree with my view, or interpret Islam in a more moderate way, but I cannot accept this religion myself.
What It’s Like to Be an Atheist in Palestine|Waleed al-Husseini, Movements.Org|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At first glance, it might be tempting to interpret this extravagant level of compensation as a victory for the once-humble intern.
Silicon Valley Interns Make a Service Worker’s Yearly Salary In Three Months|Samantha Allen|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mademoiselle caught it, and Garnache caught it too, although he failed to interpret it as precisely as he would have liked.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
I opposed this, fearing, of course, that the French and even the Gentiles might interpret this as an affront to our faith.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Increpaui ego, vt potui, per interpret paganicos hos mores in iam Christianis.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Miss Watling seemed to interpret his thoughts, for she positively looked down and blushed.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Different courts interpret the same act sometimes in different ways.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for interpret

interpret

/ (ɪnˈtɜːprɪt) /

verb

(tr) to clarify or explain the meaning of; elucidate

(tr) to construe the significance or intention ofto interpret a smile as an invitation

(tr) to convey or represent the spirit or meaning of (a poem, song, etc) in performance

(intr) to act as an interpreter; translate orally

Derived forms of interpret

interpretable, adjectiveinterpretability or interpretableness, nouninterpretably, adverb

Word Origin for interpret

C14: from Latin interpretārī, from interpres negotiator, one who explains, from inter- + -pres, probably related to pretium price

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interpret

Origin of interpret

OTHER WORDS FROM interpret

Words nearby interpret

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say interpret?

Words related to interpret

How to use interpret in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for interpret

Derived forms of interpret

Word Origin for interpret