Definition of interpretationnext
1
2
as in version
a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view a sensitive interpretation of a piece that is a touchstone for violinists

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in variation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) a very Freudian interpretation of The Nutcracker

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 interpretation But the great characters in the modern Western canon are always ripe for interpretation. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 The mill tapped into the diverse markets to hear different interpretations of what denim needs to become and used those insights to inform its new collection. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 What’s great about this is that the brief is very specific but opens it up to all sorts of interpretations. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 A week later, the Catholic bishops responded to Uthmeier in their own letter, arguing that their differing interpretation of Catholic teachings is exactly what his office fights to protect in terms of constitutional rights and freedom of religion. — Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interpretation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interpretation
Noun
  • But conventional explanations emphasizing liberalism’s association with economic development and the rise of a middle class cannot fully account for ideological shifts.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But the younger Trejo’s account at least offers an explanation for why his father took the job with Shapiro’s Daily Wire.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That draft bill is a legislative version of an AI safety framework the company has been pitching for months, a company spokesperson told Semafor.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The composition of these jets isn’t crystal clear, but scientists suspect electrons, positrons (the antimatter versions of electrons) and perhaps protons are pulled along swirling magnetic lines before being sent out from the black hole’s poles.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The German athletic brand has kept its classic Samba shoe hyper relevant by introducing new variations, such as its recent slip-on version.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Perform 5 to 10 repetitions of whichever variation is appropriate for you.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • IllustratorMagic then generates the story, illustrations, and page layout together while keeping characters consistent from page to page.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In other words, the idea of turning roads into giant wireless chargers has been kicking around for years, and some projects are now producing encouraging results rather than just concept illustrations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The San Jose Mercury News lauded Alanis Morissette's rendition before Game 2, but didn't appear to care that players weren't on the court for it.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This time, for its fourth rendition, organizers took a less overtly partisan tack by focusing on getting people to vote and eschewing the mass demonstrations of the past.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • For those playing Saturday, the Powerball top prize is $600 million and the Florida Lotto has a $5 million big take.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Inspired by those family photographs from the early aughts, as well as some runway looks from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Snell styled the film with a more modern take.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • At all six stores in New York this summer, one of the top-selling books—helped along by Hollywood—was Emily Wilson’s twelve-thousand-one-hundred-and-ten-line verse translation of the Odyssey.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • His theory didn’t reach far beyond Japan until the translation of his original essay, first in 1978, then in 2005, and again, with Mori’s approval, in 2012.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Every component of his equipment was engineered to maximize performance.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In another sequence, a compact camera rig mounted on a helmet captured Tom Holland’s performance from near his face, with a blurry red shape added in compositing to suggest the inside of his mask.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Interpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interpretation. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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