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
If not, the basic gist: Buy a present (typically within a certain budget) and bring it, wrapped, to the big event.
—
Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2025
The general gist is that these things all work, but the effects are variable, personal, and context-specific.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gist
Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2025
The general gist is that these things all work, but the effects are variable, personal, and context-specific.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gist
Noun
-
One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
17 May 2026
-
If this is on your mind, move forward, because time is of the essence.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Social engagement, community involvement, and faith in the structures that organize daily life are among the study’s core predictors of whether an older adult feels their life has meaning—and all of them depend, at least in part, on trust.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Creating pieces that make women feel comfortable and confident through every stage of motherhood has always been at the core of Bumpsuit.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
What is striking about this moment is that America is not merely acknowledging the Jewish roots of some of its values historically, but openly turning again to a distinctly Jewish practice as a possible source of wisdom for the present.—
Ari Berman,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Many stayed, putting down roots that grew into multigenerational farming families who continue to shape the region’s dynamic food scene.—
Vivian Chung,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
La Familia members typically bang drums and sing their hearts out from opening to closing whistle but decided to stay quiet and brought no flags or instruments to the stadium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
-
For instance, imagine that the young man with a heart rhythm problem was temporarily unconsciousness, and so his medical team had to instead consult his proxy regarding placement of the pacemaker.—
Adam W. Gaffney,
STAT,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Lake Howell found the sledding a tad tougher in the second set, and was never able to build more than a three-point lead at any point during the match.—
Bill Kemp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
-
The critical shipping passage has been a key point of the war, driving up gas prices.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
In his work, the unfathomable is what most powerfully involves us—some private kernel of feeling that resists interpretation, and always remains out of reach.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
While both vulnerabilities were patched in the Linux kernel, none of the distributions had incorporated the fix.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Ratner and the First Lady have all defended the steep cost of the film, which cost $40 million to make and another $35 million to market – outlandish sums for a documentary.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
-
Traditional preparations — Korean kimchi, Japanese miso, Eastern European sauerkraut, Central Asian kefir — have been refined over centuries to preserve the microbial communities that make these foods more than the sum of their ingredients.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gist. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
