Home › Words › P › paraphraseparaphrase/ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/paraphrase means A restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim.paraphrase is pronounced /ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/.EtymologyFrom Middle French paraphrase, from Latin paraphrasis, from Ancient Greek παράφρασις (paráphrasis). Doublet of paraphrasis.nounA restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim.e.g.“Near-synonym: paraphrasis”One of a certain number of Scripture passages turned into verse for use in the service of praise.verbTo restate something as, or to compose a paraphrase. To repeat a written or spoken phrase/quote using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form, or sometimes in a humorous context.e.g.“She asked the student to paraphrase the passage.”Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).