decipher meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decipher meaning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of interpreting or understanding the significance of something, such as a text or a situation. Example: "In order to fully appreciate the poem, we must take the time to decipher its meaning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

She doesn't exactly imitate a 16th-century style; instead, she incorporates its rhythms into her own, enabling young readers to decipher meaning from context.

The New York Times - Books

AI will let Facebook decipher meaning at scale, mining the trillion posts to improve everything's relevancy without needing human employees to pry into anyone's content.

TechCrunch

The notion is that one shouldn't have to wade through another person's speech patterns to decipher meaning; everyone should speak and think like I do so that my job as a reader is easy.

Huffington Post

THUMP spoke to senior financial analyst Richard Tullo of Albert Fried and Company over the phone, and he suggested that these relatively small percentages were hard to decipher meaning from without more extensive context than the report provides.

Vice

This deeper understanding is the decipher meaning of what the students narrated in their reflective diaries in relation to being caring for a patient suffering from cancer.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The writing system of the classic Maya has been substantially deciphered, meaning that a corpus of their written and inscribed material has survived from before the European conquest.

Wikipedia

The genetic basis for some of the key traits that differentiate M. bovis from M. tuberculosis have now been deciphered, meaning that we can construct recombinants where M. tuberculosis expresses traits normally associated with M. bovis.

Plosone

However, beyond demonstrating "what is important about that case in its world" (Stake 2003 140) my interpretations and thick contextual description allows readers to decipher meanings that might be transferable to their own circumstances (Stake 2003; Shenton 2004) potentially offering "the force of example" in resolving relatable issues (Flyvbjerg 2006:228; Thomas 2011).

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Some modern critics believe Eureka is the key to deciphering meaning in all Poe's fiction, that all his works involve similar theories.

Wikipedia

Natural language classifier: to create apps that can decipher intent and meaning when questions are asked in different ways.

TechCrunch

I found it hard at first to decipher his meaning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decipher meaning", ensure the context implies a degree of complexity or obscurity that requires effort to understand. For simpler understanding, consider using "understand the meaning".

Common error

Avoid using "decipher meaning" when "understand the meaning" or "interpret the meaning" would suffice. "Decipher" implies a hidden or complex message that needs to be decoded, whereas "understand" and "interpret" are suitable for more straightforward comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decipher meaning" functions as a verb phrase where "decipher" (verb) takes "meaning" (noun) as its object. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It indicates the act of interpreting a complex or obscured message.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decipher meaning" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the process of uncovering understanding from complex or obscure information. Ludwig AI validates its use across diverse contexts, though it's most common in News & Media and Scientific domains. When writing, remember that "decipher" suggests complexity, making it best suited for situations where understanding requires more than simple interpretation. Consider alternatives like "interpret meaning" or "understand meaning" when the context is straightforward. The phrase's versatility makes it a valuable asset in conveying nuanced comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interpret meaning

Focuses on providing a subjective explanation, less about overcoming obscurity.

decode meaning

Implies converting from a code or symbolic form into understandable language.

understand meaning

Broader and more general term, not necessarily involving a difficult process.

grasp meaning

Emphasizes the act of seizing or comprehending something quickly.

extract meaning

Focuses on taking out the essence or core significance.

unravel meaning

Suggests disentangling or resolving a complex or obscure meaning.

resolve meaning

Focuses on finding a solution to the meaning, settling on an interpretation.

determine meaning

Emphasizes establishing or fixing the meaning definitively.

ascertain meaning

Implies finding something out for certain, more formal.

break down meaning

Implies dissecting the meaning into smaller components for better understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "decipher meaning" in a sentence?

You can use "decipher meaning" when you're trying to understand something complex or obscure, such as "It took hours to decipher meaning from the ancient text" or "Analysts are struggling to decipher meaning from the CEO's cryptic statement".

What can I say instead of "decipher meaning"?

You can use alternatives like "interpret meaning", "decode meaning", or "understand meaning" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "decipher meaning" or "decipher the meaning"?

Both "decipher meaning" and "decipher the meaning" are correct. The choice depends on the context and desired emphasis. "Decipher the meaning" is often used when referring to a specific meaning, while "decipher meaning" can be more general.

What's the difference between "decipher meaning" and "explain meaning"?

"Decipher meaning" suggests uncovering a hidden or complex meaning, while "explain meaning" refers to making something understandable. You decipher something you're trying to understand yourself, and you explain something to help others understand.