paraphrase

American  

[par-uh-freyz] / ˈpær əˌfreɪz /

noun

1. a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.

2. the act or process of restating or rewording.

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verb (used with object)

paraphrased, paraphrasing

1. to render the meaning of in a paraphrase.

   to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.

   Synonyms:

   explain, summarize

verb (used without object)

paraphrased, paraphrasing

1. to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.

paraphrase British  

/ ˈpærəˌfreɪz, ˌpærəˈfræstɪk /

noun

1. an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify

2. the practice of making paraphrases

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verb

1. to put (something) into other words; restate (something)

paraphrase Cultural  

1. A restatement of speech or writing that retains the basic meaning while changing the words. A paraphrase often clarifies the original statement by putting it into words that are more easily understood.

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Usage

What does paraphrase mean? A paraphrase is a restatement of a text in your own words while giving credit to the person who originated the thought. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” You might paraphrase it in an essay by writing, “To paraphrase FDR, we have nothing to be afraid of, and we can’t let fear hold us back.”To paraphrase means to restate something in your own words. You might paraphrase complicated information in order to make it easier for your audience to understand. You also might paraphrase something when you can’t remember or can’t verify the exact wording. It’s important to remember that you still need to credit the originator of the statement you’re paraphrasing.Example: If you cannot remember the exact quote, you can paraphrase with precise detail.

Related Words

See translation.

Other Word Forms

• misparaphrase verb
• paraphrasable adjective
• paraphraser noun
• paraphrastic adjective
• unparaphrased adjective

Etymology

Origin of paraphrase

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis, from Greek paráphrasis; para- ¹ + phrase

Example Sentences

To paraphrase William Faulkner about the South, the past is never dead in Southern California — it isn’t even past.

From Los Angeles Times

But fundamentally, it’s a love story — boys meet boys, boys lose boys, boys get boys, to paraphrase the old Hollywood formula.

From Los Angeles Times

At one point during our dinner in 2019, he paraphrased Robert Oppenheimer, the leader of the Manhattan Project, who believed the atomic bomb was an inevitability of scientific progress.

From New York Times

And so people, to get stuff done, can paraphrase and say, well, there’s a code red, et cetera, but I did not issue code red.

From New York Times

To paraphrase Hegel, democracy isn’t supposed to have heroes because heroes appear only in its absence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rephrase
• transcribe