rephrase
verb
re·phrase
(ˌ)rē-ˈfrāz 
rephrased; rephrasing
: 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
George J. Church and Evan ThomasExamples of rephrase in a Sentence
I don't understand what you're asking—could you rephrase your question?
Recent Examples on the Web
Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor rephrased the question.
—Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Rather than rephrasing and presenting any of his concerns to Coach W., Dave unloads on Peyton.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This can be done through repeating or rephrasing questions, paraphrasing the person’s responses, pausing to give the person time to think, and providing simple prompts to help the person remember.
—R. Amanda Cooper, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2025
And while Buster Posey and Vitello did spend an inordinate amount of time describing and then rephrasing that description of what managers are expected to do, an underlying truth cut through:
Vitello is a people person — confident in himself but not threatened by other ways of going about things.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rephrase
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Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Rather than rephrasing and presenting any of his concerns to Coach W., Dave unloads on Peyton.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
This can be done through repeating or rephrasing questions, paraphrasing the person’s responses, pausing to give the person time to think, and providing simple prompts to help the person remember.
—R. Amanda Cooper, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2025
And while Buster Posey and Vitello did spend an inordinate amount of time describing and then rephrasing that description of what managers are expected to do, an underlying truth cut through:
Vitello is a people person — confident in himself but not threatened by other ways of going about things.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rephrase
Cite this Entry
“Rephrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rephrase. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
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