R. S. Anson
Did you know?
If parse brings up memories of learning the parts of speech in school, you've done your homework regarding this word. Parsing sentences, after all, is part and parcel of learning to read and write. Parse comes from the first element of the Latin term for "part of speech," pars orationis. It's an old word that has been used since at least the mid 1500s, but it was not until the late 1700s that parse graduated to its extended, non-grammar-related sense of "to examine in a minute way" or "to analyze critically." Remember this extended sense, and you'll really be at the head of the class.
Examples of parse in a Sentence
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is not expected to release its September jobs report this morning while the government is shut down, leaving employers to parse conflicting private-sector reports instead.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Proponents argue that quantum computing can solve problems too complex for regular computers and parse larger quantities of data.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Corporate earnings continue to beat expectations, providing enough fuel for the market rally to continue at least until investors parse through third quarter earnings results in the coming months, Teal said.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parse
Cite this Entry
“Parse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parse. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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