gist
46
4.6
- noun
- /dʒɪst/
:
idea principal
- OK, I managed to get the gist of what she was saying.
- get the gist
- the gist of the text
- summarize the gist
So that was, that was the gist of my sketch.
- So that was, that was the gist of my sketch.
- That's sort of, I think that's the gist of how she did it.
- Did do I have the gist of this correct?
- At least that's kind of the gist of what I've read online.
- That had been the gist of his messages to King Thull.
- And that's the general gist of the First World War.
- you know, but you don't need to do that to get the gist of what we're talking about.
- All right, So hopefully you got the gist of it.
- Some are literal, others go for the gist.
- But I think you have a gist of your story.
Examples
-
"I could only recall the gist of that poem," I said, "so I didn't write it down."
Fiction book (1998) -
And I know the gist of it.
-
In any case, this is the the gist of the story.
-
So I got your text today and I shared the gist of it with everybody.
-
I know the gist of almost all of them, word for word.
-
Yes, I get the gist of it, but it's all right
-
We get the gist of it.
-
But the gist of it is we all worship something.
-
After a thorough and interesting explanation by Jerry, I was able to grasp the gist of the project.
Academic text (2008) -
I finally understood the gist of her argument after listening carefully.
Synonyms
∞
2.7
The central part of something, for example an idea or a place
468
3.2
The most important central part of something
441
4.8
The central idea or most important part of something
282
1.0
The most important part or person that gets most attention
188
4.3
The main idea of something said or written
78
5.5
The main part of an idea or talk that matters most
73
5.3
The main point of an argument or story
43
3.1
A main idea in a talk or report
28
3.4
The most important part that holds a group or thing together
21
5.4
Central part of an idea or argument
12
7.7
The most important part of something
6
6.7
The main point people argue about in a discussion
5
2.9
The most important point someone makes in a discussion or essay
1
7.7
The main part of an idea or argument
1
8.2
A short clear summary of the main points of a text or speech
1
5.6
The main point someone makes in a discussion
The most important point people discuss in a disagreement
The main point of a discussion or argument
How Central
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word gist comes from an old French verb gésir that means 'to lie' or 'to rest'. Think of the gist as what 'lies' at the center of a speech or text — the most important part.