encapsulate

verb en·cap·su·late \ in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt , en- \

|Updated on: 21 Jul 2018

Examples: encapsulate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of encapsulate

encapsulated; encapsulating

transitive verb

1 : to enclose in or as if in a capsule

a pilot encapsulated in the cockpit

2 : epitomize, summarize

encapsulate an era in an aphorism

intransitive verb

: to become encapsulated

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encapsulation

play \in-ˌkap-sə-ˈlā-shən, en-\ noun

See encapsulate defined for English-language learners

See encapsulate defined for kids

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Examples of encapsulate in a Sentence

The contaminated material should be encapsulated and removed.
can you encapsulate the president's speech in about a paragraph?

Recent Examples of encapsulate from the Web

This new oral delivery features insulin-ionic liquid formation encapsulated in an acid-resistant enteric coating.

— fiza pirani, ajc, "These insulin pills could replace daily injections for diabetics, study says," 28 June 2018
But the story of why the Patriots win is encapsulated in the first five paragraphs of my story.

— SI.com, "Peter King’s Favorite Stories, from SI and The MMQB," 28 May 2018
Gomez’s energy, speed and ability to make incredible defensive plays are all encapsulated in that idea.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Mayor of Ding Dong City' arrives Sunday, so let's take a look at the 12 best Brewers player bobbleheads thus far," 22 May 2018
The exhibit neatly encapsulates Hamilton’s life, from his Caribbean boyhood to his time as an aide to George Washington to his role as first secretary of the Treasury.

— john kelly, Washington Post, "His name was ‘Alexander Hamilton.’ New exhibits recount his words and deeds.," 27 June 2018
What is probably Cajal’s most famous drawing stands out not only for its stark arboreal beauty but also for encapsulating his neuron doctrine.

— sharon begley, STAT, "In ‘Beautiful Brain,’ the secrets of neurons emerge in Nobel-winning scientist’s ink and pencil drawings," 3 May 2018
As his voice matured, Clemens’s stories, hoaxes, and brutal sketches grew into something entirely American, encapsulating the terrible whimsy, painful irony, and outrageous hilarity of life on the mining frontier.

— gregory crouch, Time, "Mark Twain Claimed He Got His Pen Name From a Riverboat Captain. He May Have Actually Gotten It in a Saloon," 19 June 2018
All of this Sturm und Drang was encapsulated in a single photo, which — tellingly — German Chancellor Angela Merkel posted on her Instagram page.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Single Photo Artfully Sums Up America’s Isolation at G7 Summit," 9 June 2018
Nothing encapsulated Boston's fearless youth and dynamic potential quite like Tatum's dunk on James, and chesty celebration after, in Game 7 on Sunday.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As NBA Finals begin, where do Bucks fit in the contender conversation in the East?," 30 May 2018

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

Did You Know?

Encapsulate and its related noun, "capsule," derive from "capsula," a diminutive form of the Latin noun capsa, meaning "box." "Capsa" also gave us our noun "case" (the container kind; the legal sense has a different origin). The original sense of encapsulate, meaning "to enclose something in a capsule," first appeared in the late 19th century. Its extended meaning, "to give a summary or synopsis of something," plays on the notion of a capsule as something compact, self-contained, and often easily digestible (as in a capsule of medicine). There is also a verb "capsule," which is more or less synonymous with "encapsulate."

First Known Use of encapsulate

1872

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

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encapsulate Synonyms

Synonyms

abstract, boil down, digest, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, sum up, summarize, wrap up;

Near Antonyms

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract;

amplify, elaborate (on or upon), enlarge (on or upon), expand, supplement;

downsize, shrink;

concentrate, consolidate;

simplify, streamline;

ENCAPSULATE Defined for English Language Learners

encapsulate

verb

Definition of encapsulate for English Language Learners

: to show or express the main idea or quality of (something) in a brief way
: to completely cover (something) especially so that it will not touch anything else