Interpret Definition & Meaning

interpret
verb
  1. make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you see in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?"
  2. give an interpretation or explanation to
  3. give an interpretation or rendition of; "The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully"
  4. create an image or likeness of; "The painter represented his wife as a young girl"
  5. restate (words) from one language into another language; "I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S."; "Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?"; "She rendered the French poem into English"; "He translates for the U.N."
  6. make sense of a language; "She understands French"; "Can you read Greek?"

Synonyms for interpret

construe verb

make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you see in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?"

♫ Rhymes
read noun

something that is read; "the article was a very good read" interpret something that is written or printed

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
render noun

a substance similar to stucco but exclusively applied to masonry walls cause to become

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
represent verb

take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
translate verb

restate (words) from one language into another language

♫ Rhymes
understand verb

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Interpret" in song lyrics

See how interpret is used in real songs:

  • "My life hanging on a verdict and laws I'm unable to interpret"
    Binary Star — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 1)
  • "Speak that Underground language that they can't interpret"
    Chief Kamachi — Kamachi
  • "I'm busy so I'll leave that one for you to interpret"
    Immortal Technique f/ Akir, Pharoahe Monch — Apocalypse Remix *

Words that rhyme with interpret

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Usage tips for "interpret"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "interpret" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for interpret to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with interpret ↔ Synonyms for interpret 🔬 Words containing interpret

Frequently asked questions

What does interpret mean?
make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you see in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?" give an interpretation or explanation to give an interpretation or rendition of; "The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully" create an image or likeness of; "The painter represented his wife as a young girl" restate (words) from one language into another language; "I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S.
What part of speech is interpret?
Interpret is a verb.
How many definitions does interpret have?
Interpret has 6 definitions across 1 part of speech (verb).

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