decode

verb

de·​code (ˌ)dē-ˈkōd 

decoded; decoding; decodes

transitive verb

1

a

: to convert (something, such as a coded message) into intelligible form

b

: to recognize and interpret (an electronic signal)

2

a

: decipher sense 3a

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.

Synonyms

• break
• crack
• decipher
• decrypt

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

The competition is spurring researchers to decode the wealth of information about ancient Rome and Greece contained within the papyri. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

Whether such residual vision is sufficient to decode Dr. Seuss and do long division is a separate question — one advocates for the blind and school officials often disagree about. —Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025

Here, Vogue helps to decode the black-tie dress code. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025

The scroll was written in hieratic, a type of ancient Egyptian cursive, and the dealer, Edwin Smith, wasn’t fluent enough to decode the text. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

decode

verb

de·​code (ˈ)dē-ˈkōd 

: to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language

decoder noun