Meaning & use
paraphrase
To express the meaning of a text or speech using different words, often more simply.
See it in a sentence
The teacher asked students to paraphrase the poem's final stanza in their own words.
Instead of quoting the report directly, the journalist chose to paraphrase its main findings.
A note on using this word
A paraphrase keeps the original meaning but changes the wording, which distinguishes it from a direct quotation.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A restatement of a text or speech in different words, keeping the original meaning.
Her paraphrase of the contract's clause made the legal language much easier to understand.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “paraphrase”, then compare your use with the examples above.