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Definition of paraphrase
(Entry 1 of 2)
Definition of paraphrase (Entry 2 of 2)
intransitive verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
When we paraphrase, we provide a version that can exist beside the original (rather than replace it). We paraphrase all the time. When you tell a friend what someone else has said, you're almost always paraphrasing, since you're not repeating the exact words. If you go to hear a talk, you might paraphrase the speaker's main points afterward for your friends. And when writing a paper on a short story, you might start off your essay with a paraphrase of the plot. Paraphrasing is especially useful when dealing with poetry, since poetic language is often difficult and poems may have meanings that are hard to pin down.
- restatement
- translating
- translation
Examples of paraphrase in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paraphrase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun and Verb
Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis , from Greek, from paraphrazein to paraphrase, from para- + phrazein to point out
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Articles Related to paraphrase
The Words of the Week - Jan. 5
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Dictionary Entries Near paraphrase
paraphrasis
Cite this Entry
“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraphrase. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of paraphrase.
Kids Definition of paraphrase (Entry 2 of 2)
More from Merriam-Webster on paraphrase
Nglish: Translation of paraphrase for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of paraphrase for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paraphrase
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[ par - uh -freyz ]
- a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.
- the act or process of restating or rewording.
verb (used with object)
to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.
Synonyms: explain , summarize
verb (used without object)
- to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.
/ ˈpærəˌfreɪz; ˌpærəˈfræstɪk /
- an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify
- the practice of making paraphrases
- to put (something) into other words; restate (something)
- A restatement of speech or writing that retains the basic meaning while changing the words. A paraphrase often clarifies the original statement by putting it into words that are more easily understood.
Discover More
Derived forms.
- paraphrastic , adjective
Other Words From
- para·phrasa·ble adjective
- para·phraser noun
- mis·para·phrase verb misparaphrased misparaphrasing
- un·para·phrased adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of paraphrase 1
Synonym Study
Example sentences.
When Obsessive Loser Duncan Stevens suggested examples for this contest — one of several Shakespeare-centered challenges he’s proposed — I told him that I wanted to stick to modern paraphrases, rather than taking him humorously out of context.
To paraphrase Peter Tosh, if Illinois were to legalize it, would you advertise it?
To paraphrase the renegade philosopher Hannibal, I love it when science comes together.
To paraphrase Fox Friends, don't get caught beating women on camera and you're safe to play in the NFL.
Barry Goldwater is not the sort of man you might expect Stephen F. Cohen to paraphrase.
To paraphrase the great John Oliver, listen up, fellow self-pitying nerd boys—we are not the victims here.
A man may weep and weep, to paraphrase Shakespeare, "and be a villain!"
The omissions are the most sensible that I have found in a paraphrase.
This is not paraphrase; it is sheer misapprehension of the Old English.
As the language in which it is written is not easily intelligible, I have added a paraphrase on the opposite pages.
Instead of "Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion," we have the paraphrase, "That maketh and transformeth all things."
More About Paraphrase
What does paraphrase mean.
A paraphrase is a restatement of a text in your own words while giving credit to the person who originated the thought. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” You might paraphrase it in an essay by writing, “To paraphrase FDR, we have nothing to be afraid of, and we can’t let fear hold us back.”
To paraphrase means to restate something in your own words. You might paraphrase complicated information in order to make it easier for your audience to understand. You also might paraphrase something when you can’t remember or can’t verify the exact wording. It’s important to remember that you still need to credit the originator of the statement you’re paraphrasing .
Example: If you cannot remember the exact quote, you can paraphrase with precise detail.
Where does paraphrase come from?
The first records of the term paraphrase come from the mid-1500s. It ultimately comes from the Greek paráphrasis . Typically, the suffix para – means “side by side,” so a paraphrase is a “side by side phrase,” or “a phrase that means the same but looks or sounds different.”
Sometimes, people will paraphrase famous quotes, quotes from important figures, or quotes from research and change key parts of it or the overall wording to make the quote seem like it supports their claim when, in fact, it does not. For example, someone may paraphrase a quote from a research article but leave out certain details to make the research support their argument while the actual quote might not. When looking at an argument that uses a lot of paraphrases as evidence, it’s a good idea to find the original quotes to see if they truly support the argument.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to paraphrase ?
- paraphrasable (adjective)
- paraphraser (noun)
- misparaphrase (verb)
- unparaphrased (adjective)
What are some synonyms for paraphrase ?
What are some words that share a root or word element with paraphrase ?
What are some words that often get used in discussing paraphrase ?
How is paraphrase used in real life?
News, research, and academic writing often use paraphrasing to tell their stories.
To paraphrase: How long does it take to write a screenplay? Your whole life plus the time it takes to type it. — Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 8, 2015
FAQ: How many in-text citations do I need in a paragraph when I am paraphrasing (e.g., after every sentence or just once at the end)? A: The “Long Paraphrases” section of this #APAStyle page has practical guidelines and examples: https://t.co/eH9tg2nf4M — APA Style (@APA_Style) December 1, 2021
to paraphrase shigeru miyamoto, a delayed album is eventually good, but a rushed album is forever bad — xander (@mura_masa_) December 30, 2015
Try using paraphrase !
True or False?
To paraphrase someone is to quote their words precisely.
Paraphrasing - an overview
Paraphrasing is ..., what are the differences between quoting, paraphrasing & summarising .
- Why Paraphrase?
- Paraphrasing versus Plagiarism
- The Do's and Don'ts of Paraphrasing
- Paraphrasing - examples
- Further Information
Paraphrasing is 'a restating of someone else’s thoughts or ideas in your own words. You must always cite your source when paraphrasing’ (Pears & Shields, 2019 p. 245).
(Solas English, 2017)
- Quoting means using someone else’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks..
- Paraphrasing means expressing someone else’s ideas in your own voice, while keeping the same essential meaning.
- Summarising means taking a long passage of text from someone else and condensing the main ideas in your own words.
Watch the video below for more information.
(UNC Writing Center, 2019)
- Next: Why Paraphrase? >>
- Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024 3:42 PM
- URL: https://lit.libguides.com/paraphrasing
The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest
Definition of 'paraphrase'
paraphrase in British English
Paraphrase in american english, examples of 'paraphrase' in a sentence paraphrase, trends of paraphrase.
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In other languages paraphrase
- American English : paraphrase / ˈpærəfreɪz /
- Brazilian Portuguese : parafrasear
- Chinese : 释义
- European Spanish : parafrasear
- French : paraphraser
- German : umschreiben
- Italian : parafrasare
- Japanese : 別の言葉で言い換える
- Korean : 다른 말로 바꿔서 설명하다
- European Portuguese : parafrasear
- Latin American Spanish : parafrasear
- Brazilian Portuguese : paráfrase
- Chinese : 改述
- European Spanish : paráfrasis
- French : paraphrase
- German : Umschreibung
- Italian : parafrasi
- Japanese : 言い換え
- Korean : 다른 말로 바꿔서 설명한 것
- European Portuguese : paráfrase
- Latin American Spanish : paráfrasis
Browse alphabetically paraphrase
- paraphrasable
- paraphraser
- paraphrasis
- All ENGLISH words that begin with 'P'
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Definition of paraphrase verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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Nearby words.
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Meaning of paraphrasing in English
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- din something into someone
- drum something into someone
- flog yourself to death idiom
- reassertion
- recapitulate
- regurgitate
- reiteration
- repetitively
- restatement
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a name someone uses instead of their real name, especially on a written work
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COMMENTS
QuillBot's AI-powered paraphrasing tool will enhance your writing. Your words matter, and our paraphrasing tool is designed to ensure you use the right ones. With unlimited Custom modes and 9 predefined modes, Paraphraser lets you rephrase text countless ways. Our product will improve your fluency while also ensuring you have the appropriate ...
Ahrefs' Paraphrasing Tool uses a language model that learns patterns, grammar, and vocabulary from large amounts of text data - then uses that knowledge to generate human-like text based on a given prompt or input. The generated text combines both the model's learned information and its understanding of the input.
Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead. Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you put the author's ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .
PARAPHRASE definition: 1. to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a…. Learn more.
paraphrase: [noun] a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form.
To do this, follow the "Four R's of Paraphrasing": 1. Reword. Ask yourself if any of the words or phrases you used were copied too closely from the original text, and replace anything that is too similar in your paraphrase. It's especially important to do this for longer, less commonly used words. 2.
Paraphrase definition: a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.. See examples of PARAPHRASE used in a sentence.
Paraphrasing means 'to state something written or spoken in different words, especially in a shorter and simpler form to make the meaning clearer' (Cambridge Online Dictionary, 2022). Paraphrasing is 'a restating of someone else's thoughts or ideas in your own words. You must always cite your source when paraphrasing' (Pears & Shields ...
Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone's exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it's usually better to integrate sources by ...
Paraphrasing makes a lengthy passage concise, but it can be tricky to make it original. Learn the correct way to paraphrase with these paraphrasing examples. Dictionary Thesaurus Sentences Grammar Vocabulary Usage Reading & Writing Articles Vocabulary; Usage ...
PARAPHRASING definition: 1. present participle of paraphrase 2. to repeat something written or spoken using different words…. Learn more.
Look up paraphrase in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A paraphrase or rephrase ( / ˈpærəˌfreɪz /) is the rendering of the same text in different words without losing the meaning of the text itself. [1] More often than not, a paraphrased text can convey its meaning better than the original words. In other words, it is a copy of the text in ...
PARAPHRASE meaning: 1. to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a…. Learn more.
paraphrase: 1 v express the same message in different words Synonyms: rephrase , reword Types: translate express, as in simple and less technical language Type of: ingeminate , iterate , reiterate , repeat , restate , retell to say, state, or perform again n rewording for the purpose of clarification Synonyms: paraphrasis Types: translation ...
Definition of paraphrase verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
3 meanings: 1. an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify 2. the practice of making.... Click for more definitions.
PARAPHRASE definition: to express something that has been said or written in a different way, usually so that it is clearer. Learn more.
Definition of paraphrase noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner ...
Definition of paraphrase verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner ...
paraphrasing meaning: 1. present participle of paraphrase 2. to repeat something written or spoken using different words…. Learn more.