Paraphrase: meaning, definitions and examples

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paraphrase

 

[ หˆperษ™freษชz ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

writing

Express the meaning of (something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.

Synonyms

rephrase, restate, reword, rewrite.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
paraphrase

Used when you want to restate something in your own words to make it simpler or clearer.

  • Can you paraphrase this paragraph? The teacher asked the students to paraphrase the poem
rephrase

Typically used when you need to change the wording of a sentence to make it clearer or to avoid ambiguity.

  • She needed to rephrase her question to get a clearer response
  • Could you rephrase that last statement?
reword

Used when you need to change the wording of a sentence or phrase, often to make it more suitable or appropriate for a specific audience.

  • Can you reword this sentence to be more formal? She had to reword her statement to avoid offending anyone
rewrite

Used when you need to write something again completely, often to improve or correct it.

  • The editor asked him to rewrite the article
  • She decided to rewrite her resume to better highlight her skills
restate

Used when you want to say something again, often in a different way, to emphasize a point or ensure understanding.

  • Let me restate the main points for clarity
  • He restated his position on the matter during the meeting

Examples of usage

  • He paraphrased the poem in his own words.
  • She asked me to paraphrase the passage for better understanding.
Context #2 | Noun

academic writing

A rewording of something written or spoken, especially with the aim of greater clarity.

Synonyms

rephrasing, restatement, rewriting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
paraphrase

Used interchangeably with 'paraphrase' in most situations but can be repetitious. It implies expressing the same message in a different, usually simpler, way.

  • Could you paraphrase that explanation for me?
rephrasing

Ideal when adjusting the wording to make it more appropriate, clearer, or more effective.

  • He kept rephrasing his question until she understood
  • The teacher suggested rephrasing the sentence to improve clarity
restatement

Usually employed in formal contexts, like speeches or academic papers, to reiterate a point in a different manner.

  • The lawyer's restatement of the facts helped clarify the case
  • The restatement of the theory made it easier for the students to grasp
rewriting

Used when extensive changes are made to the original text, not just changing a few words. It can involve creating new versions of documents or texts.

  • He spent hours rewriting his essay to better express his ideas
  • The manuscript underwent several rounds of rewriting before publication

Examples of usage

  • The student's essay included a paraphrase of the original text.
  • It is important to provide proper citations when using a paraphrase in your paper.

Translations

Translations of the word "paraphrase" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น parรกfrase

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅˆเคฐเคพเคซเฅเคฐเฅ‡เคœเคผ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Paraphrase

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ parafrasa

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะฐั€ะฐั„ั€ะฐะท

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ parafraza

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่จ€ใ„ๆ›ใˆ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท paraphrase

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ parรกfrasis

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท parafraz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜์—ญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุนุงุฏุฉ ุตูŠุงุบุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ parafrรกze

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ parafrรกza

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้‡Šไน‰

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ parafraza

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ umorรฐun

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะฐั€ะฐั„ั€ะฐะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒแƒ แƒแƒคแƒ แƒแƒ–แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ parafraza

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ parรกfrasis

Etymology

The word 'paraphrase' originated from the Middle French word 'paraphraser', which in turn came from the Latin word 'paraphrasis'. The term has been used in English since the late 16th century. Paraphrasing is a common practice in academic writing to avoid plagiarism and to demonstrate understanding of a source material.

See also: paraphrasing, phrase, phrased, phrases, phrasing, rephrase.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,166, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.