Summarize
/ˈsʌməraɪz/
Definitions
To briefly retell or give the main points of something, omitting unnecessary details.
/ˈsʌməraɪz/
To give a brief statement of the main points of something.
Can you summarize the plot of the novel for me?
💡 Simply: Imagine you're telling a friend about a movie, but you only have a minute. You'd *summarize* it by telling the important parts: what it's about, the main characters, and the ending!
👶 For kids: To tell the most important things about something in a short way.
More Examples
He summarized the main points of the meeting in an email.
The presenter summarized the research findings in a clear and concise manner.
How It's Used
"Students are often asked to summarize articles for their assignments."
"The CEO asked the team to summarize the quarterly financial reports."
"The news anchor summarized the latest developments in the conflict."
Idioms & expressions
In a nutshell
In very few words; briefly.
"In a nutshell, the company is facing financial difficulties."
From Late Latin *summarizare*, from Latin *summa* ('the chief point, the essentials'). It entered English in the late 16th century.
The word 'summarize' has been used in legal and literary contexts for centuries, indicating the concise presentation of complex information.
Memory tip
Think of a 'summer' day – you want to capture its essence, not the whole season. Summarizing does the same, with information!
Word Origin
"the chief point, the essentials"