# summary

/ˈsəmɝi/ (US) · /sˈʌməɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/summary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a short version

noun · CEFR B1 · General-service

a short statement that gives the main points of something longer, like a book or a meeting.

For teachers: a brief statement or account of the main points of something. Countable in general usage.

- At the end of the chapter, there is a short summary of the main events.
- The executive summary provided a concise overview of the project's financial projections without delving into the technical minutiae of the engineering phase.

### 2. brief and condensed

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

short and containing only the most important information.

For teachers: brief or condensed in form; presenting the substance of a matter in a concise manner.

- The reporter gave a summary account of the day's events in the city.
- The professor requested a summary report of the findings, emphasizing that brevity was more important than exhaustive detail for this initial review.

### 3. done quickly without ceremony

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

done immediately and quickly, often without following the usual rules or ceremonies.

For teachers: performed speedily and without formal ceremony; often implies a lack of due process or deliberation.

- The manager's summary dismissal of the employee's ideas upset the whole team.
- The summary execution of the prisoners without a trial was condemned by international human rights organizations as a violation of global law.

### 4. legal proceedings

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

describes a legal process that happens quickly without a full, long trial.

For teachers: relating to or denoting legal proceedings conducted without the traditional requirement of a full jury trial.

- The judge issued a summary judgment because the facts of the case were very clear.
- The defence moved for a summary judgment, arguing that the prosecution had failed to provide any evidence that could legally sustain a conviction.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'summary judgment'.

## Examples

- Please write a short summary of the book.
- The lawyer provided a clear summary of the evidence before the jury began their private discussion.
- At the conclusion of the three-day conference, the lead researcher presented a comprehensive summary of the findings to ensure all stakeholders understood the project's next steps.

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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.