Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

paraphrase

/ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.07 in modern English

Syllables: para-phrase
IPA: /ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

One of a certain number of Scripture passages turned into verse for use in the service of praise.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To restate something as, or to compose a paraphrase. To repeat a written or spoken phrase/quote using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form, or sometimes in a humorous context.

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: paraphrasis"
"close paraphrase"
"The article included a brief paraphrase of the speech."
"She asked the student to paraphrase the passage."
"Adult-literacy scores have also dropped: Nearly 30 percent of American adults cannot paraphrase or make inferences from a multipage text. In 2017, that number was less than 20 percent."

Etymology

From Middle French paraphrase, from Latin paraphrasis, from Ancient Greek παράφρασις (paráphrasis), equivalent to para- + phrase. Doublet of paraphrasis.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: paraphrasis, παράφρασις

Usage

Inflected Forms

paraphrases (plural) paraphrases (present, singular) paraphrasing (participle, present) paraphrased (participle, past) paraphrased (past)

Derived Forms

paraphrastic paraphrastical paraphrastically misparaphrase paraphrasability paraphrasable paraphrasal paraphrasist unparaphrasable unparaphrased

Phrases

Etymology of translation in other words or words to that effect

Frequently Paired Words

Etymology of translation metaphrase in other words or words to that effect

Synonyms

paraphrasis rephrase reword

Questions

How do you pronounce paraphrase?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/.
What does paraphrase mean?: A restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim.
Where does paraphrase come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce paraphrase

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “paraphrase”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “paraphrase”.
Repeat and practice — Say “paraphrase” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.