# excerpt

/ˈɛksɝpt/ (US) · /ɛksˈɜːpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/excerpt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a short passage

noun · CEFR B2

a small part of a book, article, or song that you read or listen to separately.

For teachers: a short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.

- The teacher read a short excerpt from the novel to the class.
- The anthology includes a brief excerpt from the author's final memoir, providing a poignant glimpse into his creative process during his later years.

## Examples

- She read a short excerpt from her new book.
- The teacher handed out an excerpt from the novel so the students could analyze the author's style.
- While the full documentary spans three hours, this five-minute excerpt provides a comprehensive overview of the director's primary arguments regarding urban planning.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.