Word
rephrase
Phoneticsre·phrase
US/ɹiˈfɹeɪz/
UK/ɹɪfɹˈeɪz/
Definition
v. to say the same thing again using different words. You do this to make an idea clearer or to avoid repeating the same phrase.
v. to express the same meaning using different words or a different structure. Often used in academic or professional contexts to avoid plagiarism or to clarify complex ideas.
Examples
“Please rephrase your answer so it is easier to understand.”
“The editor asked the author to rephrase the opening paragraph to make it more engaging for the general public.”
“By rephrasing the legal argument in simpler terms, the defense attorney successfully demonstrated that the evidence was not as conclusive as the prosecution had claimed.”
Examples
simple
“Please rephrase your answer so it is easier to understand.”
contextual
“The editor asked the author to rephrase the opening paragraph to make it more engaging for the general public.”
complex
“By rephrasing the legal argument in simpler terms, the defense attorney successfully demonstrated that the evidence was not as conclusive as the prosecution had claimed.”
Real-World Examples
“You phrase and rephrase things all day without thinking that anyone—or anything—is putting words in your mouth.” Etymology
From re- + phrase.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/rephrase