translate

verb

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trans·late | \ tran(t)s-ˈlāt

, tranz-; ˈtran(t)s-ˌlāt, ˈtranz- \

translated; translating

Definition of translate

transitive verb

1a : to turn into one's own or another language

b : to transfer or turn from one set of symbols into another : transcribe

c(1) : to express in different terms and especially different words : paraphrase

(2) : to express in more comprehensible terms : explain, interpret

2a : to bear, remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another : transfer, transform translate ideas into action

b : to convey to heaven or to a nontemporal condition without death

c : to transfer (a bishop) from one see to another

3 : enrapture

4 : to subject to mathematical translation

5 : to subject (genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis

intransitive verb

1 : to practice translation or make a translation also : to admit of or be adaptable to translation a word that doesn't translate easily

2 : to undergo a translation

3 : lead, result —usually used with into believes that tax cuts will translate into economic growth

Other Words from translate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing translate Learn More About translate

Other Words from translate

translatability \ (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌlā-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

, (ˌ)tranz- \ noun

The translatability of other native two-dimensional designs into the commercial medium of silk screens, however, may not be so clearcut. — Margaret B. Blackman et al.

translatable \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-tə-bəl

, tranz- \ adjective

The word is of Derrida's own coinage and is deliberately ambiguous (and therefore not translatable), being derived from the French … — Ann Jefferson … but the resultant information is spotty and not readily translatable into an average national trend. — Barry Commoner

translator \ ˈtran(t)s-ˌlā-tər

, ˈtranz- ; tran(t)s-ˈlā-tər , tranz- \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for translate

Synonyms

Antonyms

quote

Examples of translate in a Sentence

My client speaks only Spanish. Will you translate for me? The French word “bonjour” translates as “hello” in English. We need someone who can translate Japanese into English. We have translated the report. The book has been translated into 37 languages. Can you translate this technical jargon? Seventy million Americans—that translates into one American out of every four—are under the age of 24. See More

Recent Examples on the Web But this dilutes their margins substantially, and the competitive disadvantage is guaranteed to translate into price pressures and strain their income statements. — Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 It’s now high time for noble intentions to translate into meaningful next steps. — Caroline Casey, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Going into his final season at Louisville, the key for Cunningham will be consistency and to translate the stats into wins. — Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 21 July 2022 Upon his arrival, the abbot commissioned Arabic scholars to translate all the major Islamic texts, including the Qur’an, into Latin. — Fred Bahnson, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Her style represented a sea change from the polished, tight and desperately relatable bits ready-made to translate into a sitcom or a late-night appearance. — New York Times, 14 July 2022 Yee is proud of the office’s work to translate materials into Spanish and Navajo languages to help expand participation to people who traditionally are more hesitant to invest in such plans. — Ryan Randazzo, The Arizona Republic, 14 July 2022 Before June 13, Senzel was hitting .213, and his playing time was in jeopardy as the 27-year-old struggled to translate his tools into consistent success in MLB. — Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 11 July 2022 The company, co-founded by Musk, is developing computer interfaces that help people with neurological conditions translate their thoughts into action. — Fox News, 9 July 2022 See More

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