as in essence
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
didn't catch every word between them, but heard enough to get the gist of the conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of gist
There was still some vagueness around specifics, but the basic gist of the deal is that European imports to the U.S. will mostly be tariffed at 15 percent.
—
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 28 July 2025
Again, the overall gist is that everyone expects this to be pretty competitive basketball between two good teams.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The general gist of the new dolls is to celebrate two distinct industry roles—musical Artist and Tour Manager.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 28 Feb. 2025
In some instances, the glasses got the correct gist across but failed to capture some nuances of what was being said to me.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gist
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 28 July 2025
Again, the overall gist is that everyone expects this to be pretty competitive basketball between two good teams.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The general gist of the new dolls is to celebrate two distinct industry roles—musical Artist and Tour Manager.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 28 Feb. 2025
In some instances, the glasses got the correct gist across but failed to capture some nuances of what was being said to me.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gist
Noun
-
The film’s direction, combined with the film’s cinematography, focuses on the mythological essence of Elefsina and the mysterious shipwrecks hidden in the darkness of its seabed.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Tarasoff’s parents were, in essence, asking the court to impose a duty on therapists to ignore patient confidentiality laws and warn potential victims of their patients.—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Geekbench, the A18 Pro’s single-core speeds weren't terribly far behind the A16’s multi-core<\/em> speeds.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
At the core of the system is the ability to read ErrPs generated in the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
See latest conditions Rainfall during the critical germination months from September through November was well below normal, and the winter rain needed to support deep roots and healthy growth also fell short.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The roots of the quaint hotel—once home to a cardinal—are reflected in the guest rooms’ tapestries, oak floors, and Carrara-marble bathrooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The kind of traveler who loves customized itineraries is a trendsetter at heart, someone with an insatiable curiosity for the world and a penchant for authentic experiences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And the 6-9, 250-pound Boozer started to act like his brother Cayden, getting the ball up top in a point forward role on several possessions and then driving downhill.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
-
My father, at this point, was laying on the couch, half asleep.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Bottom Line on Sleepmaxxing As with many social media health trends, there’s a kernel of a good idea here.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to the bacon and sausage, this queso is packed with filling black beans, corn kernels, scallions, cheese, jalapeños, and our favorite, Rotel tomatoes.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two other gamblers won five-figure sums in California from last week’s draws.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That was an average of more than $20,000 to the 21,000 employees who received a lump-sum check.—
Melody Gutierrez,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gist. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
