English Reference

Word

interpreted

Phoneticsin·ter·pret·ed

US/ˌɪnˈtɝpɹətəd/

UK/ɪntˈɜːpɹɪtɪd/

Definitions

01explained or understood

B2

v. explained the meaning of something or understood it in a specific way.

v. explained the meaning of information, words, or actions; often implies a subjective or analytical understanding.

“The teacher interpreted the difficult poem for the students.”

“The historian interpreted the ancient inscriptions as evidence of a sophisticated trade network that spanned the entire continent.”

Usage

Often used with 'as' to show the specific meaning assigned to something.

02translated spoken words

B2

v. translated what someone said into another language while they were speaking.

v. provided an oral translation of spoken words from one language to another in real time.

“She interpreted the diplomat's speech for the local news reporters.”

“The professional linguist interpreted the witness's testimony during the trial to ensure the jury understood every nuance of the statement.”

Synonyms

03run directly by a program

C1 · Computing

adj. describes computer code that is read and followed directly by a program rather than being changed into a file first.

adj. pertaining to a programming language or script that is executed by an interpreter rather than being compiled into machine code beforehand.

“Python is a popular interpreted language used by many beginners.”

“Because the script is interpreted at runtime, it may execute more slowly than a compiled binary, though it offers greater flexibility for cross-platform development.”

Technical

Usage

Usually placed before the noun 'language' or 'script'.

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“He said: “This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.”
BreakingNews.ie · 15 Aug 2026
“That could, over time, be interpreted to require U.S.-based companies that operate in Europe to collect and share similar data about their emissions and those of their customers.”
The Conversation · 28 Jul 2026
“In my work, I study how medical evidence is generated and interpreted.”
The Conversation · 4 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference