the gist

noun

: the general or basic meaning of something said or written : the main points

—usually + of

The gist of her argument was that the law was unfair.

I didn't read the whole article, but I got the gist of it.

Examples of the gist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There essentially wasn’t time to go further back and explore the origin of Rio and Agatha’s relationship, but the gist of it is that Agatha killed a lot of people and kept attracting her attention. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Here, presented with intercutting flashbacks, the gist of his story doesn’t lose its power, but the words somehow do. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024

Step right this way for an in-depth explainer on how to clean and care for it, but here’s the gist: At least once a month, pull out a clean microfiber cloth, a food-grade mineral oil, and a food-safe board sealant that combines oil with a protective beeswax. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 17 Sep. 2024

That’s the gist of the provisional calendar Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, or CNMI, released on Wednesday for the upcoming edition of Milan Fashion Week, running Sept. 17 to 23. —Sandra Salibian, WWD, 24 July 2024