extract

1 of 2

verb

ex·​tract ik-ˈstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
usually in sense 5
ˈek-ˌstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
extracted; extracting; extracts

transitive verb

1
a
: to draw forth (as by research)
extract data
b
: to pull or take out forcibly
extracted a wisdom tooth
c
: to obtain by much effort from someone unwilling
extracted a confession
2
a
: to withdraw (something, such as a juice or a constituent element) by physical or chemical process
b
: to treat with a solvent so as to remove a soluble substance
3
: to separate (a metal) from an ore
4
: to determine (a mathematical root) by calculation
5
: to select (excerpts) and copy out or cite
extractability noun
extractable
ik-ˈstrak-tə-bəl How to pronounce extract (audio)
ˈek-ˌstrak-
adjective

extract

2 of 2

noun

ex·​tract ˈek-ˌstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
1
: a selection from a writing or discourse : excerpt
2
: a product (such as an essence or concentrate) prepared by extracting
especially : a solution (as in alcohol) of essential constituents of a complex material (such as meat or an aromatic plant)

Did you know?

Do you exact or extract revenge?

The verb exact (as in, "exacting revenge" or "exacting a promise") is not as commonly encountered as the adjective exact, (as in "an exact copy" or "exact measurements"). Sometimes people will mistakenly use the more common verb extract when they really want exact. Extract can refer to removing something by pulling or cutting or to getting information from someone who does not want to give it. While both words refer to getting something they are used in different ways. You extract a tooth, but you exact revenge.

Did you know?

The Crisscrossing Histories of Abstract and Extract

Abstract is most frequently used as an adjective (“abstract ideas”) and a noun (“an abstract of the article”), but its somewhat less common use as a verb in English helps to clarify its Latin roots. The verb abstract is used to mean “summarize,” as in “abstracting an academic paper.” This meaning is a figurative derivative of the verb’s meanings “to remove” or “to separate.”

We trace the origins of abstract to the combination of the Latin roots ab-, a prefix meaning “from” or “away,” with the verb trahere, meaning “to pull” or “to draw.” The result was the Latin verb abstrahere, which meant “to remove forcibly” or “to drag away.” Its past participle abstractus had the meanings “removed,” “secluded,” “incorporeal,” and, ultimately, “summarized,” meanings which came to English from Medieval Latin.

Interestingly, the word passed from Latin into French with competing spellings as both abstract (closer to the Latin) and abstrait (which reflected the French form of abstrahere, abstraire), the spelling retained in modern French.

The idea of “removing” or “pulling away” connects abstract to extract, which stems from Latin through the combination of trahere with the prefix ex-, meaning “out of” or “away from.” Extract forms a kind of mirror image of abstract: more common as a verb, but also used as a noun and adjective. The adjective, meaning “derived or descended,” is now obsolete, as is a sense of the noun that overlapped with abstract, “summary.” The words intersected and have separated in modern English, but it’s easy to see that abstract applies to something that has been summarized, and summarized means “extracted from a larger work.”

Choose the Right Synonym for extract

educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved.

educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Examples of extract in a Sentence

Verb He extracted a credit card from his wallet. I had to have a tooth extracted. The tumor was surgically extracted. We finally extracted a confession from him. Investigators were able to extract useful information from the company's financial records. They are hoping to extract new insights from the test results. The machines extract the juice from the apples. oil extracted from sunflower seeds venom extracted from poisonous snakes Noun The recipe calls for a tablespoon of vanilla extract. the anthology includes a long extract from the epic poem See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Focus on extracting clear, actionable insights, and avoid getting overwhelmed by technical jargon. Justin Rende, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Empathy is our capacity to extract ourselves from our own beliefs and feelings–and understand why another individual may have theirs. Morgan Mercer, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023 House Republicans want to extract some sizable government cuts in these bills. Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2023 China could also finance the project and extract payment either in tolls or from Russian oil and gas exports. Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 The film recounts Alex’s efforts to extract the truth from Marcus, who fears that any disclosures would be unbearable for them both. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 Scrap businesses generally make money by taking cars apart to extract the most valuable widgets to resell. WIRED, 17 Nov. 2023 The company has joined forces with Wall Street private-equity firms that employ physicians to extract wealth from the community and those physicians can be ‘removed from the schedule’ on a whim without justification. Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023 The song was completed at last by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo, while George Harrison guitar parts from the initial attempt to finish the track were also incorporated into the song. Gary Trust, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023
Noun
This detoxifying shower gel contains grapefruit extract to brighten skin, as well as salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and smooth, leaving skin more even, balanced and glowing. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 If your skin is looking a little dull, these two products will brighten up your complexion à la tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and lotus seed extract (SkinMedica) or L-ascorbic acid and hyaluronic acid (Obagi Medical). Sarah Han, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023 Using all-natural ingredients, such as red ginseng, tangerine peel and herb extracts, the brand combines centuries-old medicinal practices with cutting-edge research, resulting in award-winning formulas. Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2023 Vanilla extract: Elevates all the flavors of the cake. Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2023 Hyaluronic acid and aloe water provide hydration, caffeine firms and brightens, and probiotic extracts smooth and de-puff the area’s delicate skin, leaving behind an awakened look every time. Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 They are complemented by other Super 8 extracts that are reconstructed especially for the film. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 24 Nov. 2023 Then, the 24-karat gold leaf mask is applied and left to soak in; once removed, a face oil containing gold flakes and rose extract is dabbed on, leaving you looking like royalty. Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2023 Enriched with aloe leaf extract and avocado oil, its gentle, non-comedogenic formula is perfect for maintaining hydrated, comfortable skin. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin extractus, past participle of extrahere, from ex- + trahere to draw

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of extract was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near extract

Cite this Entry

“Extract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extract. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

extract

1 of 2 verb
ex·​tract ik-ˈstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
 usually in sense 4  ek-ˌstrakt
1
: to remove by pulling
extract a tooth
2
: to get out by pressing, distilling, or by a chemical process
extract juice from apples
3
: to calculate a mathematical root
4
: to choose and take out for separate use
extract a few lines from a poem
extractable adjective
extractor
-tər
noun

extract

2 of 2 noun
ex·​tract ˈek-ˌstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
1
: a selection from a writing
2
: a product obtained by extracting
vanilla extract

Medical Definition

extract

1 of 2 transitive verb
ex·​tract ik-ˈstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
1
: to pull or take out forcibly
extracted a wisdom tooth
2
: to withdraw (as the medicinally active components of a plant or animal tissue) by physical or chemical process
also : to treat with a solvent so as to remove a soluble substance
extractability noun
plural extractabilities
extractable adjective

extract

2 of 2 noun
ex·​tract ˈek-ˌstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
: something prepared by extracting
especially : a medicinally active pharmaceutical solution

Legal Definition

extract

noun
ex·​tract ˈek-ˌstrakt How to pronounce extract (audio)
: a certified copy of a document that forms part of or is preserved in a public record

More from Merriam-Webster on extract

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!