summarize

verb

sum·​ma·​rize ˈsə-mə-ˌrīz 

summarized; summarizing

transitive verb

: to tell in or reduce to a summary

intransitive verb

: to make a summary

summarizable

ˌsə-mə-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

summarizer noun

Synonyms of summarize

• outline
• digest

Examples of summarize in a Sentence

I would like to take a moment to summarize the facts that I presented earlier.

He summarized by saying we needed better planning and implementation.

To summarize, we need better schools.

Recent Examples on the Web

Account managers have seen their preparatory work shrink—AI can assemble meeting notes, summarize calls, draft follow-ups and flag patterns across client communication. — Victor Karpenko, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The police department will summarize findings for the council and make a recommendation on what to do next. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

The film ends with Kaczynski being apprehended, and summarizes the years to follow via text on the screen. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

The result is still research writing, but students learn to summarize and synthesize sources, trace citations, evaluate evidence, and analyze arguments while also thinking about the production of knowledge itself. — Saurabh Anand, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for summarize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

summarize

verb

sum·​ma·​rize ˈsəm-ə-ˌrīz 

summarized; summarizing

1

: to tell in or reduce to a summary

2

: to make a summary

summarizable

ˌsəm-ə-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

summarizer noun