# interpret

/ˌɪnˈtɝpɹət/ (US) · /ɪntˈɜːpɹɪt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to explain meaning

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to decide what the intended meaning of something is, such as a law, a dream, or someone's behavior.

For teachers: to explain or establish the meaning or significance of something; to construe a particular sense from data, actions, or texts.

- 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.

### 2. to translate orally

verb · CEFR B2

to change spoken words from one language into another while someone is speaking.

For teachers: to translate orally or into sign language the words of a speaker in real time or near real time.

- 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.

### 3. artistic performance

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to perform a play, a piece of music, or a role in your own creative way.

For teachers: to represent or render a work of art or a dramatic role according to one's personal conception of the creator's ideas.

- 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.

### 4. computing

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to run a computer program by reading and following the instructions one by one.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- How do you interpret the results of this survey?
- The diplomat needed a professional to interpret her speech for the local audience in real time.
- Scholars often interpret the author's silence on the matter as a subtle form of protest against the prevailing political climate of the era.

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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.