Word
interpret
Phoneticsin·ter·pret, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈtɝpɹət/
UK/ɪntˈɜːpɹɪt/
Definitions
01to explain meaning
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to decide what the intended meaning of something is, such as a law, a dream, or someone's behavior.
v. to explain or establish the meaning or significance of something; to construe a particular sense from data, actions, or texts.
日本語:解釈する※
“Different people might interpret the same statistics in very different ways.”
“The court was asked to interpret the ambiguous wording of the contract to determine if a breach of duty had occurred.”
Usage
Often used with 'as' to describe the conclusion reached.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02to translate orally
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to change spoken words from one language into another while someone is speaking.
v. to translate orally or into sign language the words of a speaker in real time or near real time.
日本語:通訳する※
“She was hired to interpret for the visiting delegation during the factory tour.”
“A professional was required to interpret the witness's testimony for the jury, ensuring that every nuance of the dialect was accurately conveyed.”
Usage
Can be used intransitively or with an object representing the language or speech.
Pitfall
She translated the speech for the diplomat in real time.
She interpreted the speech for the diplomat in real time.
While 'translate' is a general term, 'interpret' specifically refers to oral or sign language translation performed as the speaker talks.
Synonyms
03artistic performance
C1 · Advanced Theater Formal
v. to perform a play, a piece of music, or a role in your own creative way.
v. to represent or render a work of art or a dramatic role according to one's personal conception of the creator's ideas.
日本語:解釈する※
“The young pianist chose to interpret the piece much more slowly than usual.”
“Critics praised the way the lead actor chose to interpret the villain as a tragic figure rather than a simple monster.”
Teaching tip
In this context, 'interpret' implies a level of creative choice by the performer.
04computing
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
v. to run a computer program by reading and following the instructions one by one.
v. to execute a program by translating and performing each instruction in sequence, rather than using a pre-compiled binary.
“Some programming languages are interpreted by the computer rather than compiled into a file.”
“The script is interpreted line-by-line at runtime, which allows for greater flexibility but often results in slower execution speeds compared to compiled code.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “interpret” in context.
Verb
01. cautiously interpret
“Researchers should cautiously interpret these early results until further testing is done.”
adv + verb
02. correctly interpret
“If you do not correctly interpret the instructions, you might break the machine.”
adv + verb
03. differently interpret
“Two people can differently interpret the same poem based on their own life experiences.”
adv + verb
04. easily interpret
“The software converts complex code into charts that anyone can easily interpret.”
adv + verb
05. interpret data
“Scientists must carefully interpret data from the experiment to draw accurate conclusions.”
verb + noun
06. interpret finding
“It is difficult to interpret this finding without more context from the study.”
verb + noun
07. interpret meaning
“The philosopher spent years trying to interpret the meaning of existence.”
verb + noun
08. similarly interpret
“Most legal experts similarly interpret this clause as a protection for consumers.”
adv + verb
09. usually interpret
“Doctors usually interpret these symptoms as a sign of a common cold.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Understanding these differences could help pest control professionals and consumers better interpret what they see after putting out ant bait.” “Scientists commonly interpret it as an early relative of mollusks.” “If machines cannot interpret the unspoken context behind human intentions, reliably aligning advanced AI systems with human goals may prove impossible.” “But reading for pleasure also helps children learn more effectively and broadens how they view, interpret and interact with the world .” Etymology
From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret”), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (“an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator”), from inter (“between”) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (“price”); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrázein, “to point out, show, explain, declare, speak”), from which φραδή (phradḗ, “understanding”), φράσις (phrásis, “speech”); see phrase.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. interpret away
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/interpret
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0