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
The trio is the gist of the exterior price-hiking culprits, but there’s other stuff; a performance steering wheel, red contrast stitching and additional red accents.
—
James Raia, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
This appears to be the gist of news reports last week.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
That’s the gist of the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance, which has contributed to millions of deaths since 1990 and is anticipated to contribute to millions more by 2050.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025
Comparing the familiar with the unfamiliar is a leadership communication and storytelling tool that helps clarify the complex, giving audiences a way to quickly get the gist.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
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James Raia, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
This appears to be the gist of news reports last week.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
That’s the gist of the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance, which has contributed to millions of deaths since 1990 and is anticipated to contribute to millions more by 2050.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025
Comparing the familiar with the unfamiliar is a leadership communication and storytelling tool that helps clarify the complex, giving audiences a way to quickly get the gist.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for the gist
Cite this Entry
“The gist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20gist. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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