rephrase

verb

re·​phrase (ˌ)rē-ˈfrāz How to pronounce rephrase (audio)
rephrased; rephrasing

transitive verb

: to phrase or express (something) in a different way especially to make the meaning clearer
Let me rephrase the question.
… spoke first in precise medical terms, then quickly rephrased them in laymen's language.George J. Church and Evan Thomas

Examples of rephrase in a Sentence

I don't understand what you're asking—could you rephrase your question?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rephrase And Confirm Sometimes, the best way to ensure your message is received correctly is to rephrase it. Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 In many cases, witnesses for the co-applicants would not give straight answers to commissioner questions, resulting in the same question being rephrased multiple times. Ainsley Platt, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024 To get a sense that the question was understood, the person thinking about the question might rephrase the original question. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Regarding generative AI, some examples offered are fine-tuning models to uphold unique local speech patterns, and also using it to support constructive conversations by suggesting ways to rephrase potentially offensive comments with more prosocial revisions. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rephrase 

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rephrase was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near rephrase

Cite this Entry

“Rephrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rephrase. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!