the gist

noun

: the general or basic meaning of something said or written : the main points
usually + of
The gist of her argument was that the law was unfair.
I didn't read the whole article, but I got the gist of it.

Examples of the gist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After pitching the script to Brooks for 40 minutes, Gad said that the filmmaker got the gist. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 June 2025 The trio is the gist of the exterior price-hiking culprits, but there’s other stuff; a performance steering wheel, red contrast stitching and additional red accents. James Raia, Mercury News, 2 June 2025 This appears to be the gist of news reports last week. Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 That’s the gist of the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance, which has contributed to millions of deaths since 1990 and is anticipated to contribute to millions more by 2050. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for the gist

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The gist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20gist. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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!