analyze

verb an·a·lyze \ ˈa-nə-ˌlīz \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: analyze in a Sentence

Definition of analyze

analyzed; analyzing

transitive verb

1 : to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by analysis

2 : to subject to scientific or grammatical analysis

chemically analyze a specimen

analyze a sentence

3 : psychoanalyze

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analyzability

play \ˌa-nə-ˌlī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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analyzable

play \ˈa-nə-ˌlī-zə-bəl\ adjective

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analyzer

play \-ˌlī-zər\ noun

See analyze defined for English-language learners

See analyze defined for kids

Examples of analyze in a Sentence

While Wroe offers some basic biographical information and quotes copiously from Shelley's writings, she does not tell a chronological story or analyze individual poems. —Adam Kirsch, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2007
They are not doing the math. Doing the math would mean demonstrating that the voters' intuitive judgments are roughly what they would get if they analyzed the likely effects of candidates' policies, and this is a difficult calculation to perform. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2004
Ms. Magazine's online daily weblog, written by Christine Cupaiuolo, analyzes the representation of women in media and popular culture. Here are excerpts from recent postings. —Ms., Fall 2003
The data was recorded and analyzed by computer.
We took the sample to be chemically analyzed by a lab.
Researchers are busy analyzing the results of the study.
The bacteria were analyzed under a powerful microscope.

Recent Examples of analyze from the Web

The study, published earlier this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed changes in heart health in a group of 4,600 individuals from before, during, and after the recent financial crisis.

— sarah digiulio /, NBC News, "How to stop stressing over money so it doesn't hurt your health," 31 May 2018
Every single second of Prince Harry‘s royal wedding to Meghan Markle has been analyzed, but one thing the Internet can’t get over is Harry biting his lip.

— nick maslow, PEOPLE.com, "Prince Harry Bit His Lip at His Wedding to Meghan Markle — and the Internet Is Hilariously 'Mad'," 21 May 2018
According to the website, the Alarm.org study analyzed data from 3,482 municipalities across the country and consulted the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting database.

— hasan dudar, Detroit Free Press, "Report: Detroit, Flint, Saginaw among 10 most dangerous U.S. cities," 8 May 2018
The study, which will appear Monday in the journal Pediatrics, analyzed national data from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey and the 2015 Youth Risk and Behavior Survey.

— mari a. schaefer, Philly.com, "Are teens consuming too many sports drinks?," 7 May 2018
This Is the Best Day of the Week to Shop at Bed Bath & Beyond GasBuddy also analyzed its foot traffic data, and found that gas stations across the country are least busy on Sundays, followed by Mondays.

— Southern Living, "Fill up on This Day of the Week to Save the Most Money on Gas," 2 May 2018
The French study, conducted by Stéphane Bermon of the University of Nice and funded by the IAAF, analyzed 2,127 tests taken from female and male competitors at the 2011 and 2013 world track championships.

— eric niiler, WIRED, "Testosterone Ruling for Athletes Fuels Debate Over ‘Natural’ Ability," 1 May 2018
Wood then analyzed different types of volunteers to better create linkages between the participating organizations and nonprofits that hoped to partner with them.

— mark rudin, idahostatesman, "Arts and science together: Research plays vital role in Idaho’s cultural world | Idaho Statesman," 27 Apr. 2018
The competition enables teams to conduct community planning exercises; analyze economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable growth; and develop creative community solutions.

— The Aegis, "HCC student team wins Maryland Sustainable Growth Challenge," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'analyze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of analyze

probably irregular from analysis

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1587

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

analyze Synonyms

Synonyms

anatomize, assay, break down, cut, deconstruct, dissect;

Near Antonyms

agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify;

arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate;

divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivide;

Synonym Discussion of analyze

analyze, dissect, break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements. analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

- analyzed the collected data

dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

- commentators dissected every word of the speech

break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

- break down the budget

ANALYZE Defined for English Language Learners

analyze

verb

Definition of analyze for English Language Learners

: to study (something) closely and carefully : to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by a close and careful examination
: to study the emotions and thoughts of (someone) by using psychoanalysis