Summarizing: meaning, definitions and examples

The process of condensing a large amount of information into a brief and clear form. It is typically used in academic, professional, and casual settings when outlining the main points of content.

• After reading the chapter, she spent a few minutes summarizing the key concepts
• In our meeting, she did a great job summarizing the project updates

Essentially the same as 'summarizing' but is the British English spelling. It has the same applications involving condensing information.

• He wrote a short piece summarising the movie plot
• Summarising the research findings is an important skill

Used for providing a brief review or rehearsal of what has already happened or been said, often at the end of a discussion, meeting, or show. It’s typically more informal.

• Let's spend the last few minutes recapping our decisions from today’s meeting
• The TV series always starts with recapping the previous episode

Usually used for bringing everything together, often used in a more formal or judicial context to give a final conclusion or judgment.

• The judge gave a summing-up before the jury retired to deliberate
• His speech was an effective summing-up of the key arguments