# summarize

/ˈsəmɝˌaɪz/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/summarize
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to give a short version of a long story or text by only mentioning the most important parts.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "summarize about the book" but "summarize the book" — Summarize is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object and does not require the preposition 'about'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In British English, it is often spelled 'summarise'.

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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.