summary
Americannoun
plural
summariesadjective
-
brief and comprehensive; concise.
-
direct and prompt; unceremoniously fast.
to treat someone with summary dispatch.
-
(of legal proceedings, jurisdiction, etc.) conducted without, or exempt from, the various steps and delays of a formal trial.
noun
adjective
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performed arbitrarily and quickly, without formality
a summary execution
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(of legal proceedings) short and free from the complexities and delays of a full trial
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the right a court has to adjudicate immediately upon some matter arising during its proceedings
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giving the gist or essence
Related Words
Summary, brief, digest, synopsis are terms for a short version of a longer work. A summary is a brief statement or restatement of main points, especially as a conclusion to a work: a summary of a chapter. A brief is a detailed outline, by heads and subheads, of a discourse (usually legal) to be completed: a brief for an argument. A digest is an abridgment of an article, book, etc., or an organized arrangement of material under heads and titles: a digest of a popular novel; a digest of Roman law. A synopsis is usually a compressed statement of the plot of a novel, play, etc.: a synopsis of Hamlet.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of summary
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin summārium, equivalent to summ(a) “sum” + -ārium noun suffix; see sum, -ary
Explanation
A summary gives a short overview, or the main points, of something longer. She talked for days about the 800-page romantic novel, but her boyfriend's summary was "Girl meets boy, boy meets girl, boy rides horse into sunset, girl meets new boy. The end." Summary is a noun, and "summery" is an adjective, but they sound alike and both describe something short. A summer feels like a short piece of a long year, and a summary is a short statement about a longer piece. When a long speech or writing needs retelling in a short amount of time, a summary conveys the meaning in fewer words. Often a book cover has a summary of what's inside, and an introduction has a summary of the main points in a chapter.
Vocabulary lists containing summary
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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.
“Focus will be on shifts in the dot plot in the accompanying Summary of Economic Projections and on Chair Powell’s assessment of the geopolitical situation,” InTouch Capital Markets analysts team says in commentary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026
Federal Reserve officials expect inflation to end the year higher than previously forecast, according to the quarterly Summary of Economic Projections released Wednesday afternoon.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation Summary for February, which indicated that nonfarm U.S. payrolls declined by 92,000 for the month.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026
Early on Friday the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation Summary for March, with nonfarm U.S. payrolls declining by 92,000.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026
Chapter Summary: This chapter looks at creative ideas for approaching and planning a successful music lesson, including a guided outline, models of full lessons, and classroom management tips.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
