English Reference

Word

interpreting

Phoneticsin·ter·pret·ing

US/ˈɪntɝˌpɹɛtɪŋ/

UK/ɪntˈɜːpɹɪtɪŋ/

Definitions

01oral translation

B2

n. the job or act of translating spoken words from one language to another while someone is talking.

n. the professional activity of facilitating oral or sign-language communication between speakers of different languages in real time.

“The conference provided simultaneous interpreting for all the international guests.”

“Consecutive interpreting requires the linguist to take detailed notes while the speaker pauses, ensuring no nuance of the original message is lost.”

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the profession or field of study.

Pitfall

She works in the translation of conferences.

She works in conference interpreting.

Use 'interpreting' for spoken language and 'translation' for written text.

02explaining meaning

C1

n. the act of explaining or deciding on the meaning of something like a law, a dream, or a piece of art.

n. the act of explaining or clarifying the meaning of something obscure or artistic; a synonym for interpretation.

“The interpreting of these ancient laws has caused many arguments among historians.”

“The interpreting of the data required a deep understanding of both statistical methods and the specific cultural context of the survey participants.”

Formal

Real-World Examples

“However, officials in Islamabad have cautioned against interpreting it as a NATO equivalent or as being directed at any single country.”
Al Jazeera · 15 Aug 2026
“Using both earlier research and their own findings, the team also created a guide for interpreting possible tooth marks on fossils.”
ScienceDaily · 5 Aug 2026
“One surprising finding is that the public cares a lot about programs that the National Park Service runs, such as teaching kids about nature, developing teacher curriculum materials and interpreting historical events.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 15 Jul 2016

Word family

Domain

Linguistics

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/interpreting

English Reference