noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim. countable, uncountable

   "Near-synonym: paraphrasis"

2. 2
   rewording for the purpose of clarification wordnet
3. 3
   One of a certain number of Scripture passages turned into verse for use in the service of praise. Scotland, countable, uncountable

Verb

1. 1
   To restate something as, or to compose a paraphrase. To repeat a written or spoken phrase/quote using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form, or sometimes in a humorous context. ambitransitive

   "She asked the student to paraphrase the passage."

2. 2
   express the same message in different words wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

paraphrasisamplificationbilingual textburlesqueclaviscopy

Example

More examples

"I don't understand this word. Could you paraphrase it?"

Etymology

From Middle French paraphrase.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.