Summarize
To give a brief statement of the main points of a text or speech; to condense a longer work into its essential ideas.
verbSummarize
To give a brief statement of the main points of a text or speech; to condense a longer work into its essential ideas.
verbImagine This
Imagine a student reading a 300-page report and turning it into a single paragraph that captures the who, what, and why—no filler, just the core ideas.
Sounds Like
SUM-uh-ryze
Looks Like
Starts with 'sum' (total) and ends with 'arize'; the word visually resembles 'sum' and 'arize'.
Remember This
The root 'sum' means total; 'summarize' is to 'sum up' the essential points. Related words include 'summary' and 'summation'.
Other Forms
Connect With
condense, outline, recap, digest, précis
Note
Use summarize when you want a concise restatement, not a full analysis. Do not confuse with 'summon' or 'summation'.