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
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, much of the gist of the mass action will draw from the words of JAMS mediators and ex-judges.
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Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Usually the algorithm on social media gets the gist.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 Mar. 2026
Forwarded from the War Department, the gist was that the envoy refused to serve the president’s wishes.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Boublil and Schonberg have condensed a novel of over 1,000 pages into a three-hour musical, so a brisk pace is needed to give audiences the gist of the story.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
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Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Usually the algorithm on social media gets the gist.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 Mar. 2026
Forwarded from the War Department, the gist was that the envoy refused to serve the president’s wishes.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Boublil and Schonberg have condensed a novel of over 1,000 pages into a three-hour musical, so a brisk pace is needed to give audiences the gist of the story.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gist
Cite this Entry
“The gist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20gist. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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