paraphrase

noun

para·phrase | \ ˈper-ə-ˌfrāz

, ˈpa-rə-\

Definition of paraphrase

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form The teacher asked the students to write a paraphrase of the poem.

2 : the use or process of paraphrasing in studying or teaching composition paraphrase, which aims rather at recapturing the general impression of a foreign work — Times Literary Supplement

paraphrase

verb

paraphrased; paraphrasing

Definition of paraphrase (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to make a paraphrase

transitive verb

: to make a paraphrase of

Other Words from paraphrase Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about paraphrase

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Synonyms & Antonyms for paraphrase

Synonyms: Noun

rephrasing, restatement, restating, rewording, translating, translation

Synonyms: Verb

rephrase, restate, reword, translate

Antonyms: Noun

quotation, quote

Antonyms: Verb

quote

Did You Know?

When we paraphrase, we provide a version that can exist beside the original (rather than replace it). We paraphrase all the time. When you tell a friend what someone else has said, you're almost always paraphrasing, since you're not repeating the exact words. If you go to hear a talk, you might paraphrase the speaker's main points afterward for your friends. And when writing a paper on a short story, you might start off your essay with a paraphrase of the plot. Paraphrasing is especially useful when dealing with poetry, since poetic language is often difficult and poems may have meanings that are hard to pin down.

Examples of paraphrase in a Sentence

Noun

This is just a paraphrase of what he said, not an exact quote. your essays on human rights should have some original thought and not be simply a paraphrase of what's in the textbook

Verb

I'm paraphrasing, but he did say something like that. could you paraphrase your diagnosis of my medical condition, using simpler language?

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Similarly, if their paraphrase is so at odds with what McCabe said, why aren't Democrats making a bigger deal out of it? — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "The simplest, most fundamental question about the Nunes memo still has no answer. Why?," 26 Feb. 2018 The memo's main substantiation of that claim was a contested paraphrase of testimony that top FBI official Andrew McCabe gave behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee — not even a direct quote. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "Trump’s increasingly desperate, tortured claims about the Russia probe," 19 May 2018 Democrats quickly claimed the paraphrase was wrong. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "The simplest, most fundamental question about the Nunes memo still has no answer. Why?," 26 Feb. 2018 Regularly, Ferry’s translation becomes a kind of paraphrase. — Denis Feeney, New York Times, "David Ferry Won the National Book Award in His 80s. In His 90s, He Has Translated Virgil.," 5 Dec. 2017 Mr. Bishop said, referring to Dr. King’s paraphrase of the 19th-century abolitionist and Unitarian minister Theodore Parker. — Gretchen Morgenson, New York Times, "Justice Department Weighs In Against Wells Fargo in a Whistle-Blower Suit," 6 June 2017 OK, that’s merely the paraphrase of Kelly’s comments to Sports Illustrated’s MMQB about the quarterback. — Daniel Mano, The Mercury News, "Chip Kelly: Kaepernick’s protest last season was ‘zero distraction’," 31 Mar. 2017 That is author and retired pastor Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Matthew 5:37 in The Message, his popular paraphrase of the Bible that’s sold millions of copies and endeared him to Christians across the theological spectrum. — Matthew Vines, Time, "A Beloved Former Pastor Retracted His Support of Same-Sex Marriage. It Will Harm LGBTQ People More Than He May Know," 14 July 2017 Safranski’s book (a best seller in Germany) is aimed squarely at a German readership of Bildungsbürger, educated and tolerant of abstractions and paraphrases. — Michael Hofmann, New York Times, "He Built Roads. He Oversaw Mines. He Shrank the Deficit. He Was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.," 16 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Famous for his waxed mustache and epic temper, Acheson, to paraphrase his own words, believed that the world was run for idiots by idiots. — Wm. Roger Louis, WSJ, "‘Grand Improvisation’ Review: Rising Eagle, Wounded Lion," 16 Oct. 2018 To paraphrase SNL’s Stefon, this year’s biggest feuds had everything, including a secret baby, Tesla stock, plastic surgery rumors, royals, fashion shows, and Kanye West. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "This Was the Year of Celebrity Feuds," 26 Dec. 2018 Comey said, paraphrasing a quote attributed to England’s King Henry II. — Natalina Lopez, Town & Country, ""Will No One Rid Me of This Meddlesome Priest?" James Comey Quotes King Henry II During His Testimony," 8 June 2017 To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to lose one big deal may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. — Charley Grant, WSJ, "Another Bad Deal for Bayer," 29 Nov. 2018 Harms thinks there is more wrong with the 2016 study than accidentally paraphrasing the wrong dissertation. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Acting like a psychopath is great for male CEOs, not so much for women," 26 Oct. 2018 To greatly paraphrase the iconic Dowager Countess: What is a movie? — D. Elizabeth, Glamour, "The Downton Abbey Movie Officially Has a Release Date," 19 Sep. 2018 Maybe that’s because, to paraphrase Willie Sutton, cocaine is where the money is. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "A Phony Peace in Colombia," 23 Sep. 2018 To paraphrase some of Lily’s narration, there are three kinds of Salemites: a few good men and women, a few sadistic creeps, and a mass of bystanders who happily participate in misogynistic hate mobs. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "Assassination Nation is a vicious, cathartic horror film about misogyny," 21 Sep. 2018

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