parse

1 of 2

verb

ˈpärs 

 chiefly British  ˈpärz

parsed; parsing

transitive verb

1

a

: to divide (a sentence) into grammatical parts and identify the parts and their relations to each other

b

: to describe (a word) grammatically by stating the part of speech and explaining the inflection (see inflection sense 2a) and syntactical relationships

2

: to examine in a minute way : analyze critically

having trouble parsing … explanations for dwindling market shares

—R. S. Anson

intransitive verb

1

: to give a grammatical description of a word or a group of words

2

: to admit of being parsed

parse

2 of 2

noun

: a product or an instance of parsing

Did you know?

If parse brings up memories of learning the parts of speech in school, you've done your homework regarding this word. Parsing sentences, after all, is part and parcel of learning to read and write. Parse comes from the first element of the Latin term for "part of speech," pars orationis. It's an old word that has been used since at least the mid 1500s, but it was not until the late 1700s that parse graduated to its extended, non-grammar-related sense of "to examine in a minute way" or "to analyze critically." Remember this extended sense, and you'll really be at the head of the class.

Examples of parse in a Sentence

Verb

Students were asked to parse the sentence.

Economists parsed the census data.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As Ezri and their sisters parse supernatural horrors from earthbound ones, Solomon succeeds in evoking an atmosphere in which there is more than one way to feel haunted. Canoes, by Maylis de Kerangal, translated from the French by Jessica Moore (Archipelago). —The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

The case is returned to the trial judge to parse his official and unofficial acts. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

While critics, pundits and voters were parsing who said what at Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden Sunday — namely the more controversial speakers like comedian Tony Hinchcliffe — others were surprised by Melania Trump’s surprise appearance. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024

Ballotpedia also explains the wording and interpretation of ballot measures, which can be difficult to parse. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Latin pars orationis part of speech

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

parse

verb

ˈpärs,

ˈpärz

parsed; parsing

1

: to analyze a sentence by naming its parts and their relations to each other

2

: to give the part of speech of a word and explain its relation to other words in a sentence