decode
verb
de·code
(ˌ)dē-ˈkōd 
decoded; decoding; decodes
1
a
: to convert (something, such as a coded message) into intelligible form
b
: to recognize and interpret (an electronic signal)
2
b
: to discover the underlying meaning of
decode the play's imagery
Did you know?
To decode is to take out of code and put into understandable language. (Its opposite is encode, "to put into coded form".) But dreams may sometimes also be decoded; psychologists often try to decode the images of their patients' dreams so as to understand the emotions behind them. And readers must often decode what a novel or story or poem is telling them, which may require two or three readings. Decipher is often a synonym, though we now use it when talking about reading difficult handwriting.
Examples of decode in a Sentence
Readers can easily decode the novel's imagery.
I'm trying to decode the expression on her face.
The box decodes the digital signal for your CD player.
Recent Examples on the Web
These tiny passengers are now proving to be powerful storytellers, helping scientists decode ancient pandemics, dietary habits, and population dynamics.
—
Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
Taxonomists are instead working to preserve a planetary memory—an archive of life—and to decode which traits help creatures adapt, migrate, or otherwise survive in a rapidly changing climate.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025
The parallel between non-Iranian humans and AI models found by the researchers suggests these aren't just technical failures but fundamental deficiencies in decoding meaning in cross-cultural contexts.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
While the prospect of decoding Einstein’s genius remains uncertain, the real-world applications of Stereo-seq V2 are immediate, offering scientists sharper tools to explore the biology of cancer, infection, and rare diseases locked away in tissue archives.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decode
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Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
Taxonomists are instead working to preserve a planetary memory—an archive of life—and to decode which traits help creatures adapt, migrate, or otherwise survive in a rapidly changing climate.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025
The parallel between non-Iranian humans and AI models found by the researchers suggests these aren't just technical failures but fundamental deficiencies in decoding meaning in cross-cultural contexts.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
While the prospect of decoding Einstein’s genius remains uncertain, the real-world applications of Stereo-seq V2 are immediate, offering scientists sharper tools to explore the biology of cancer, infection, and rare diseases locked away in tissue archives.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decode
Cite this Entry
“Decode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decode. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decode
verb
de·code
(ˈ)dē-ˈkōd
: to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
decoder
noun
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