excerpt

[ noun ek-surpt; verb ik-surpt, ek-surpt ]

noun

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

   Synonyms: part, section, portion, selection

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

noun

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

verb

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

Derived Forms

• exˈcerptible, adjective
• exˈcerption, noun
• exˈcerptor, noun

Other Words From

• ex·cerpter ex·cerptor noun
• ex·cerpti·ble adjective
• ex·cerption noun
• unex·cerpted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excerpt¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of excerpt¹

C17: from Latin excerptum, literally: (something) picked out, from excerpere to select, from carpere to pluck

Example Sentences

An excerpt published from Page Six reveals that Carson and Wolcott's marriage was littered with infidelities.

From Salon

The following is an excerpt from her book.

From Los Angeles Times

CBS ran an excerpt of the Democratic presidential candidate’s interview on “Face the Nation” the day before it ran in a special edition of “60 Minutes” that aired Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

An excerpt of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

From Slate

In the final excerpt published in The New Yorker, dated 17 January 2024, Navalny says that fellow inmates and prison guards would often ask him why he had chosen to return to Russia.

From BBC

Related Words

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