A summaryof something is a short account of it, which gives the main points but not the details.
What follows is a brief summary of the process. [+ of]
Here's a summary of the day's news. [+ of]
Milligan gives a fair summary of his subject within a relatively short space.
See in summary
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Summary actions are done without delay, often when something else should have been done firstor done instead.
[formal]
It says torture and summary execution are common.
There is no doubt that some considered that a beating was no more than summary justice.
The four men were killed after a summary trial.
Synonyms: hasty, cursory, perfunctory, arbitrary More Synonyms of summary
summarilyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Several detainees had been summarily executed.
Synonyms: immediately, promptly, swiftly, on the spot More Synonyms of summary
More Synonyms of summary
summary in British English
(ˈsʌmərɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-maries
1.
a brief account giving the main points of something
adjective(usually prenominal)
2.
performed arbitrarily and quickly, without formality
a summary execution
3.
(of legal proceedings) short and free from the complexities and delays of a full trial
4. summary jurisdiction
5.
giving the gist or essence
Derived forms
summarily (ˈsummarily)
adverb
summariness (ˈsummariness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin summārium, from summasum1
summary in American English
(ˈsʌməri)
adjective
1.
that presents the substance or general idea in brief form; summarizing; concise; condensed
2.
a.
prompt and without formality; expeditious
summary punishment
b.
hasty and arbitrary
a summary dismissal
nounWord forms: pluralˈsummaries
3.
a brief statement or account covering the substance or main points; digest; abridgment; compendium
SIMILAR WORDS: aˈbridgment
Derived forms
summarily (sumˈmarily) (səˈmɛrəli)
adverb
summariness (ˈsummariness)
noun
Word origin
ME < ML summarius < L summa, sum
Examples of 'summary' in a sentence
summary
John tried to remember statistics from the relevant summary he'd read on joining the Withers office.
NULL DARE CALL IT TREASON (2001)
The summary that Macleod was now rummaging through detailed Stone's calculations.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2001)
Luckily it was one of those academic texts which carried summary pages at the end of each chapter.
Moore, Margaret FORESTS OF THE NIGHT (2001)
In summary, Mr. Woods, I think St. Thomas Aquinas would not consider your cause unjust.
James W. Huston FLASH POINT (2001)
In other languages
summary
British English: summary /ˈsʌmərɪ/ NOUN
A summary is a short account of something giving the main points but not the details.
...a summary of the report.
American English: summary
Arabic: خُلاصَة
Brazilian Portuguese: resumo
Chinese: 总结
Croatian: sažetak
Czech: shrnutí stručné
Danish: sammenfatning
Dutch: samenvatting
European Spanish: resumen
Finnish: yhteenveto
French: résumé
German: Zusammenfassung
Greek: σύνοψη
Italian: riassunto
Japanese: 要約
Korean: 요약
Norwegian: oppsummering
Polish: streszczenie
European Portuguese: resumo
Romanian: rezumat
Russian: краткое изложение
Latin American Spanish: resumen
Swedish: sammanfattning
Thai: ใจความสรุป
Turkish: özet
Ukrainian: підсумок
Vietnamese: tóm tắt
British English: summary ADJECTIVE
Summary actions are done without delay, often when something else should have been done first or done instead.
It says torture and summary execution are common.
American English: summary
Brazilian Portuguese: sumário
Chinese: 从简的
European Spanish: sumario
French: sommaire
German: im Schnellverfahren
Italian: sommario
Japanese: 即座の
Korean: 즉결의
European Portuguese: sumário
Latin American Spanish: sumario
All related terms of 'summary'
in summary
You use in summary to indicate that what you are about to say is a summary of what has just been said .
summary offence
an offence that is triable in a magistrates ' court
summary judgment
judgment rendered without a trial , as when there is agreement among the parties as to the material facts and only a question of law needs to be resolved
summary jurisdiction
the right a court has to adjudicate immediately upon some matter arising during its proceedings
summary court-martial
the least formal military court, consisting of one officer , for judging minor offenses
Chinese translation of 'summary'
summary
(ˈsʌmərɪ)
n(c)
摘要 (zhāiyào) (个(個), gè)
adj
(frm)[justice, execution]草率的 (cǎoshuài de)
in summary概括地说(說) (gàikuò de shuō)
(noun)
Definition
a brief account giving the main points of something
Here's a summary of the day's news.
Synonyms
synopsis
For each title there is a brief synopsis of the book.
résumé
I will leave you a résumé of his speech.
précis
a nine-page précis of the manuscript
recapitulation
review
outline
There follows an outline of the survey findings.
extract
essence
abstract
If you want to submit a paper, you must supply an abstract.
summing-up
digest
a regular digest of environmental statistics
epitome
rundown
Here's a rundown of the options.
compendium
His book is a delightful compendium of miscellaneous knowledge.
abridgment
The issue of abridgment is in the author's hands.
1 (adjective)
Definition
performed quickly, without formality or attention to details
The four women were acquitted after a summary trial.
Synonyms
hasty
After the hasty meal, they took up their positions.
cursory
I gave the letter a fairly cursory reading.
perfunctory
She gave the list only a perfunctory glance.
arbitrary
the arbitrary power of the autocratic state
2 (adjective)
a summary profit and loss statement
Synonyms
concise
The text is concise and informative.
brief
Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
compact
The strength of the series is in its concise, compact short-story quality.
condensed
laconic
Usually so laconic in the office, he seemed more relaxed.
succinct
Make sure your work is accurate, succinct and to the point.
pithy
a pithy comment
compendious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abridgment
The issue of abridgment is in the author's hands.
Synonyms
shortening,
reduction,
résumé,
outline,
restriction,
diminishing,
decrease,
limitation,
summary,
abstract,
digest,
contraction,
cutting,
lessening,
epitome,
abbreviation,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
diminution,
curtailment,
précis,
conspectus (formal)
in the sense of abstract
Definition
a summary
If you want to submit a paper, you must supply an abstract.
Synonyms
summary,
résumé,
outline,
extract,
essence,
summing-up,
digest,
epitome,
rundown,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
précis,
recapitulation,
review,
abridgment
in the sense of arbitrary
Definition
without consideration for the wishes of others
the arbitrary power of the autocratic state
Synonyms
dictatorial,
absolute,
unlimited,
uncontrolled,
autocratic,
dogmatic,
imperious,
domineering,
unrestrained,
overbearing,
tyrannical,
summary,
magisterial,
despotic,
high-handed,
peremptory,
tyrannous
Synonyms of 'summary'
summary
Explore 'summary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brief
Definition
short in length or extent
Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
Synonyms
concise,
short,
limited,
to the point,
crisp,
compressed,
terse,
curt,
laconic,
succinct,
clipped,
pithy,
thumbnail,
monosyllabic
in the sense of compact
Definition
concise
The strength of the series is in its concise, compact short-story quality.
Synonyms
concise,
brief,
to the point,
succinct,
terse,
laconic,
pithy,
epigrammatic,
pointed
in the sense of compendium
Definition
a concise but comprehensive summary
His book is a delightful compendium of miscellaneous knowledge.
Synonyms
collection,
summary,
abstract,
digest,
compilation,
epitome,
synopsis,
précis
in the sense of cursory
Definition
hasty and usually superficial
I gave the letter a fairly cursory reading.
Synonyms
brief,
passing,
rapid,
casual,
summary,
slight,
hurried,
careless,
superficial,
hasty,
perfunctory,
desultory,
offhand,
slapdash
in the sense of digest
Definition
a shortened version of a book, report, or article
a regular digest of environmental statistics
Synonyms
summary,
résumé,
abstract,
epitome,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
précis,
abridgment
in the sense of epitome
Definition
a summary, esp. of a written work
Synonyms
summary,
résumé,
abstract,
digest,
contraction,
syllabus,
abbreviation,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
précis,
abridgment,
conspectus
in the sense of laconic
Definition
(of a person's speech) using few words
Usually so laconic in the office, he seemed more relaxed.
Synonyms
terse,
short,
brief,
clipped,
to the point,
crisp,
compact,
concise,
curt,
succinct,
pithy,
monosyllabic,
sententious
in the sense of outline
Definition
a general explanation or description of something, which does not give all the details
There follows an outline of the survey findings.
Synonyms
summary,
review,
résumé,
abstract,
summing-up,
digest,
rundown,
compendium,
main features,
synopsis,
rough idea,
précis,
bare facts,
thumbnail sketch,
recapitulation,
abridgment
in the sense of perfunctory
Definition
done only as a matter of routine
She gave the list only a perfunctory glance.
Synonyms
offhand,
routine,
wooden,
automatic,
stereotyped,
mechanical,
indifferent,
careless,
superficial,
negligent,
sketchy,
unconcerned,
cursory,
unthinking,
slovenly,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive
in the sense of pithy
Definition
terse and full of meaning
a pithy comment
Synonyms
succinct,
pointed,
short,
brief,
to the point,
compact,
meaningful,
forceful,
expressive,
concise,
terse,
laconic,
trenchant,
cogent,
epigrammatic,
finely honed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of précis
Definition
a short summary of a longer text
a nine-page précis of the manuscript
Synonyms
summary,
résumé,
outline,
abstract,
sketch,
digest,
rundown,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
aperçu,
abridgment
in the sense of rundown
Definition
a brief review or summary
Here's a rundown of the options.
Synonyms
summary,
review,
briefing,
résumé,
outline,
sketch,
run-through,
synopsis,
recap (informal),
précis
in the sense of résumé
Definition
a short descriptive summary
I will leave you a résumé of his speech.
Synonyms
summary,
synopsis,
abstract,
précis,
review,
digest,
epitome,
rundown,
recapitulation
in the sense of succinct
Definition
brief and clear
Make sure your work is accurate, succinct and to the point.