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Synonyms

translate

American

[trans-layt, tranz-, trans-layt, tranz-] / trænsˈleɪt, trænz-, ˈtræns leɪt, ˈtrænz- /

verb (used with object)

to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one's own.

to translate Spanish.
to change the form, condition, nature, etc., of; transform; convert.

to translate wishes into deeds.
to explain in terms that can be more easily understood; interpret.
to bear, carry, or move from one place, position, etc., to another; transfer.
Mechanics. to cause (a body) to move without rotation or angular displacement; subject to translation.
Computers. to convert (a program, data, code, etc.) from one form to another.

to translate a FORTRAN program into assembly language.
Telegraphy. to retransmit or forward (a message), as by a relay.
Ecclesiastical.
1. to move (a bishop) from one see to another.
2. to move (a see) from one place to another.
3. to move (relics) from one place to another.
to convey or remove to heaven without natural death.
Mathematics. to perform a translation on (a set, function, etc.).
to express the value of (a currency) in a foreign currency by applying the exchange rate.
to exalt in spiritual or emotional ecstasy; enrapture.

verb (used without object)

to provide or make a translation; act as translator.
to admit of translation.

The Greek expression does not translate easily into English.

translate British

/ trænsˈleɪt, trænz- /

verb

to express or be capable of being expressed in another language or dialect

he translated Shakespeare into Afrikaans
his books translate well
(intr) to act as translator
(tr) to express or explain in simple or less technical language
(tr) to interpret or infer the significance of (gestures, symbols, etc)
(tr) to transform or convert

to translate hope into reality
(tr; usually passive) biochem to transform the molecular structure of (messenger RNA) into a polypeptide chain by means of the information stored in the genetic code See also transcribe
to move or carry from one place or position to another
(tr)
1. to transfer (a cleric) from one ecclesiastical office to another
2. to transfer (a see) from one place to another
(tr) RC Church to transfer (the body or the relics of a saint) from one resting place to another
(tr) theol to transfer (a person) from one place or plane of existence to another, as from earth to heaven
maths physics to move (a figure or body) laterally, without rotation, dilation, or angular displacement
(intr) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to fly or move from one position to another
archaic (tr) to bring to a state of spiritual or emotional ecstasy

"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

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Etymology

Origin of translate

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English translaten, from Latin trānslātus “borne across,” past participle of trānsferre “to bear across,” from trāns- trans- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry” ( see also bear ¹); for the suppletive element -lātus, earlier tlātus (unrecorded), see also thole ², tolerate

Explanation

To translate is to put into a different language or interpret. If your brother says, "Gee, Mom, all of my friends have really cool pets, like snakes and stuff," you can translate that statement to mean "I want a snake." Translate comes from the Latin translates, which means "carry across." The word isn't limited to talking about language. You can translate sales into dollars, or a play into a movie. When used that way, translate means changing something from one form to another.

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Vocabulary lists containing translate

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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.

See Examples For:

translate translates translated translating

He hopes to eventually follow the students into high school and college to examine whether their early academic advantages translate into higher graduation rates and college readiness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

The path to translate Meta’s newfound AI credibility into financial gains isn’t entirely clear, though.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Presentation slides from the company emphasized its gradual reduction of outstanding shares over more than a decade as increasing "the potential for operating performance to translate into stronger per-share results."

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

Although additional research and drug development will be needed before these findings translate into new treatments, they offer a promising direction.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

I translate for Richard and he nods enthusiastically.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

"When we do our best, it translates into better lives for people."

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

For example, higher rates mean fewer new mortgages, which translates into less demand for facilities where clients park loans before securitizing them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The 'Birds of Paradise' - as Kumuls translates - have been life-transforming.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Its name translates to "unconquered female warrior," a reference to the powerful predators that later emerged from this evolutionary lineage.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

If we don’t understand, we ask “What?” and Naano automatically translates into English without realizing it.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

The AI systems then extracted descriptions of symptoms that users associated with the medication and translated those descriptions into standardized medical terminology.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Long-simmering distrust between the Black and Muslim communities in the Detroit area has also translated into skepticism about El-Sayed among some Black voters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

As for the A.I. translation, most of the booklet was translated accurately, the assessors found.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

Speaking in Welsh, she called them "brawychus" - roughly translated as "terrible" or "shocking".

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Liyana noticed her mother’s face turning worried as Poppy translated.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

Of that, $23.9 billion in revenue came from advanced connectivity-service offerings, translating to 6.1% growth.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

However, translating the discovery into a treatment will require considerable care.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

Did you have any anxieties about singing and translating the song into Spanish?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

The biggest challenge will be translating an exciting lab finding into a real-world solution.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

He continued speaking, with Mother translating in between for the group.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023