Sample Sentences for
interpret
grouped by contextual meaning
(editor-reviewed)

interpret as in:  interpret Spanish to English

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    She will stand to his left and interpret his speech into sign language.
    interpret = translate
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    We will each speak in our own language and each bring our own interpreter to minimize confusion.
    interpreter = someone who translates language
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    Over the last few months, Leo had learned to interpret this machine language.  (source)
    interpret = translate
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  • •
    Then he asked if he could talk to me and began asking questions using Irfan as an interpreter.  (source)
    interpreter = someone who translates language
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    Okeke interpreted wisely to the spirits and leaders of Umuofia: "The white man says he is happy you have come to him with your grievances, like friends."  (source)
    interpreted = translated
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    But if Legolas was with the Company, he would not interpret the songs for them, saying that he had not the skill, and that for him the grief was still too near, a matter for tears and not yet for song.  (source)
    interpret = translate
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    The answer came dreamily, but with intention. It were as though she were interpreting something. I have heard her use the same tone when reading her shorthand notes.  (source)
    interpreting = translating
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    As I'm certain you are aware, the problem in the past with this new technology in automotive sound has been road vibrations interfering with an accurate dispersal of the phonic interpretations.  (source)
    interpretations = conversions (from record to sound)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.
  • •
    And there's no way you could have misinterpreted what you saw?†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "mis-" in misinterpreted means wrong and reverses the meaning of interpreted. This is the same pattern you see in words like misunderstand, misbehave, and misuse.
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    More and more, mistrusting his interpreters, he tries to speak in Kikongo.  (source)
    interpreters = people who translate spoken words into another language
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    Can you dismiss what you've seen and experienced today as some sort of misinterpretation of the facts?†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "mis-" in misinterpretation means wrong and reverses the meaning of interpretation. This is the same pattern you see in words like misunderstand, misbehave, and misuse.
  • •
    I'm not sure if I should be annoyed that he assumes he had the power to make me move or if I should feel bad for misinterpreting him.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "mis-" in misinterpreting means wrong and reverses the meaning of interpreting. This is the same pattern you see in words like misunderstand, misbehave, and misuse.
  • •
    Our Saviour in this Chapter interpreteth the Law of Moses; which the Jews thought was then fulfilled, when they had not transgressed the Grammaticall sense thereof, howsoever they had transgressed against the sentence, or meaning of the Legislator.†  (source)
    standard suffix: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She interpreteth" in older English, today we say "She interprets."
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interpret as in:  her interpretation of the data

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  • •
    How will a court interpret the word careless if there is a lawsuit?
    interpret = understand (what does it mean exactly?)
  • •
    The two sides disagree on how that clause of the contract should be interpreted.
    interpreted = understood or explained (In this case, exactly what does it mean in this context?)
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    She interpreted the verb "judge" as "to pass sentence", but he had meant it as "to discern or to see fine distinctions".
    interpreted = understood
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  • •
    Ongoing arguments about the "correct" interpretation of some cryptic passage in Anorak's Almanac.  (source)
    interpretation = understanding (of something in a particular way)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
  • •
    "I hope that's how people interpret the four I'll probably get," says Peeta.  (source)
    interpret = understand (something in a particular way)
  • •
    Like so many words, it can be interpreted in two ways:  (source)
    interpreted = understood or explained
  • •
    At last Ralph induced him to hold the shell but by then the blow of laughter had taken away the child's voice. Piggy knelt by him, one hand on the great shell, listening and interpreting to the assembly.  (source)
    interpreting = explaining
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    He holds out both his arms, and she interprets this gesture as "undress me."  (source)
    interprets = understands (something in a particular way)
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    Ali crushed the rebellion, and then for centuries Islamic scholars discounted Aisha's importance and rejected her feminist interpretations.  (source)
    interpretations = ways of understanding or explaining things
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.
  • •
    The French lawyer is simply a man extensively acquainted with the statutes of his country; but the English or American lawyer resembles the hierophants of Egypt, for, like them, he is the sole interpreter of an occult science.  (source)
    interpreter = expert who understands a complex subject and can explain it to non-experts
  • •
    All the world was eager to nourish the interpreters of so much beauty.†  (source)
  • •
    Interpretive skills.†  (source)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.
  • •
    Misinterpretations swarm my mind.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "mis-" in misinterpretations means wrong and reverses the meaning of interpretations. This is the same pattern you see in words like misunderstand, misbehave, and misuse.
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interpret as in:  her musical interpretation

•
Rather than record the songs herself, she likes to write them and let other musicians interpret them.
interpret = expresses personal artistic ideas or feelings while performing someone else's work
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    She interprets others' music in an original way.
    interprets = expresses personal artistic ideas while performing someone else's work
  • •
    The piece was written to be happy, but I completely missed that in her interpretation.
    interpretation = an artists performance of another artist's work that expresses the performer's feelings or ideas about the work
  • •
    She won the interpretive dance contest.
    interpretive = related to expressing personal artistic ideas or feelings while performing (or performing to) someone else's work
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  • •
    I loved her interpretation of Lady Macbeth.
    interpretation = an artists performance of another artist's work that expresses the performer's feelings or ideas about the work
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
  • •
    Some interpretive dance.  (source)
    interpretive = expressing personal artistic ideas while performing another's work
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.
  • •
    When the concert was over.... The professional elocutionist, Mrs. Evans, came and chatted with her, telling her that she had a charming voice and "interpreted" her selections beautifully.  (source)
    interpreted = captured the feelings of
  • •
    I wished I could watch this kind of dancing every day: it was astonishingly expansive, and the big-nosed dancers' artistic interpretations and discipline quickly gained our respect.  (source)
    interpretations = performances that express personal feelings or ideas
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.
  • •
    (Chef Zhukovsky's interpretation of a traditional Russian feast)  (source)
    interpretation = unique version
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    If I can't do my interpretive dance, I don't want to dance with anyone.  (source)
    interpretive = expressing personal artistic ideas while performing another's work
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    He felt as if a polite but insistent stage-manager were attempting to make him give a new interpretation of a part he had conned for years.  (source)
    interpretation = an artists performance of another artist's work that expresses the performer's feelings or ideas about the work
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    But although the photographer had been prevented from reproducing directly the masterpieces or the beauties of nature, and had there been replaced by a great artist, he resumed his odious position when it came to reproducing the artist's interpretation.  (source)
    interpretation = an artist's work expressing feelings or ideas about something
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    Martyn appeared with their first course: Emile's interpretation of the Olivier salad for Sofia and goose-liver pâté for the Count.  (source)
    interpretation = unique version
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    There was a proper consumption of strong waters all along the line; one man invariably went on the stage highly stimulated, claiming that his particular interpretation of the part required it.  (source)
    interpretation = an artists performance of another artist's work that expresses the performer's feelings or ideas about the work
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