Word
summarize
Phoneticssum·ma·rize, stress on the first syllable
/ˈsəmɝˌaɪz/
UK spelling · summarise
Definition
v. to give a short version of a long story or text by only mentioning the most important parts.
v. to provide a concise account of the main points of a text or event. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the information being condensed.
Examples
“Please summarize the main points of the meeting.”
“At the end of each chapter, the author provides a short paragraph to summarize the key findings for the reader.”
“The executive assistant was tasked to summarize the lengthy legal brief into a single page of actionable bullet points for the board of directors.”
Examples
simple
“Please summarize the main points of the meeting.”
contextual
“At the end of each chapter, the author provides a short paragraph to summarize the key findings for the reader.”
complex
“The executive assistant was tasked to summarize the lengthy legal brief into a single page of actionable bullet points for the board of directors.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “summarize” in context.
Verb
01. briefly summarise
“Before we start the meeting, could you briefly summarise the project's progress?”
adv + verb
02. summarise data
“The final report will summarise data collected from the three-month study.”
verb + noun
03. summarise finding
“In the conclusion, you should summarise your main finding in one or two sentences.”
verb + noun
04. summarise in
“It is difficult to summarise the entire book in just a few paragraphs.”
verb + prep
Noun
05. table summarise
“The following table summarises the differences between the two products.”
noun + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In British English, it is often spelled 'summarise'.
Pitfall
summarize about the book
summarize the book
Summarize is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object and does not require the preposition 'about'.
Etymology
From summary + -ize. From summ(ary) + -arize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADVERB
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/summarize