The gist of a speech, conversation, or piece of writing is its general meaning.
He related the gist of his conversation to Naseby.
Synonyms: essence, meaning, point, idea More Synonyms of gist
gist in British English
(dʒɪst)
noun
1.
the point or substance of an argument, speech, etc
2. law
the essential point of an action
Word origin
C18: from Anglo-French, as in cest action gist en this action consists in, literally: lies in, from Old French gésir to lie, from Latin jacēre, from jacere to throw
gist in American English
(dʒɪst)
noun
1. Law
the grounds for action in a lawsuit
2.
the essence or main point, as of an article or argument
Word origin
ME giste < OFr, abode, point at issue < 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of gesir, to lie < L jacere, to lie; sense infl. by Anglo-Fr legal phrase l'action gist, lit., the action lies
Examples of 'gist' in a sentence
gist
Anyway, you get the gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They didn't get the gist, but they like the song.
The Sun (2016)
And the gist of his message will be?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They just need to be run a little bit better is the gist of his argument.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The visitor soon gets the gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They'd get the gist pretty quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Do you feel others are not getting the gist of what you're saying?
The Sun (2015)
Anyway, you get the gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So I am always very keen to get the gist!
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We are as one, uni... you get my gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There's no dialogue, but we get the gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He doesn't have to write exactly what it says in the dictionary, just the general gist.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The basic gist is that, if you want something, ask the universe and it will deliver.
The Sun (2010)
THE basic gist of this is to kill a room of enemies as quickly as possible, over and over again.
The Sun (2013)
The gist of his argument was'you see other teams do it and we need to do it as well'.
The Sun (2011)
We get a steady trickle of critical letters whose general gist is'Why did you write that, when you could have written this?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The gist of the story is valid, and the argument one I support.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You get the gist of what I'm saying.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
gist
British English: gist NOUN
the gist ofThe gist of a speech, conversation, or piece of writing is its general meaning.
He related the gist of his conversation to this man.
American English: gist
Brazilian Portuguese: essencial
Chinese: 要点
European Spanish: lo esencial
French: essentiel
German: Wesentliche
Italian: succo
Japanese: 要点
Korean: 요지
European Portuguese: essencial
Latin American Spanish: lo esencial
Chinese translation of 'gist'
gist
(dʒɪst)
n
the gist of his speech/article他讲(講)话(話)/文章的主旨 (tā jiǎnghuà/wénzhāng de zhǔzhǐ)
(noun)
Definition
the main point or meaning of something
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
Synonyms
essence
Some claim that Ireland's very essence is expressed through its language.
meaning
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
point
You have missed the main point of my argument.
idea
sense
a noun which has two senses
import
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
core
He has the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
substance
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.
drift
She was beginning to get his drift.
significance
marrow
the very marrow of his being
nub
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
pith
quintessence
the quintessence of civilized culture
Additional synonyms
in the sense of core
Definition
the central or essential part of something
He has the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
Synonyms
heart,
essence,
nucleus,
kernel,
crux,
gist,
nub,
pith
in the sense of drift
Definition
the main point of an argument or speech
She was beginning to get his drift.
Synonyms
meaning,
point,
gist,
aim,
direction,
object,
import,
intention,
implication,
tendency,
significance,
thrust,
tenor,
purport
in the sense of import
Definition
meaning
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
Synonyms
meaning,
implication,
significance,
sense,
message,
bearing,
intention,
explanation,
substance,
drift,
interpretation,
thrust,
purport,
upshot,
gist,
signification
Nearby words of
gist
girlfriend
girlish
girth
gist
give
give (a) free rein to something or someone
give birth
Synonyms of 'gist'
gist
Explore 'gist' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of marrow
the very marrow of his being
Synonyms
core,
heart,
spirit,
quick,
soul,
cream,
substance,
essence,
kernel,
gist,
pith,
quintessence
in the sense of meaning
Definition
the sense or significance of a word, sentence, or symbol
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
Synonyms
significance,
message,
explanation,
substance,
value,
import,
implication,
drift,
interpretation,
essence,
purport,
connotation,
upshot,
gist,
signification
in the sense of nub
Definition
the point or gist
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
Synonyms
gist,
point,
heart,
core,
essence,
nucleus,
kernel,
crux,
pith
in the sense of pith
Definition
the essential part
Synonyms
essence,
point,
heart,
meat,
core,
marrow,
kernel,
crux,
gist,
heart of the matter,
nub,
quintessence,
salient point,
the long and the short of it
in the sense of point
Definition
the essential idea in an argument or discussion
You have missed the main point of my argument.
Synonyms
essence,
meaning,
subject,
question,
matter,
heart,
theme,
import,
text,
core,
burden,
drift,
thrust,
proposition,
marrow,
crux,
gist,
main idea,
nub,
pith
in the sense of quintessence
the quintessence of civilized culture
Synonyms
essence,
heart,
spirit,
soul,
core,
marrow,
kernel,
gist,
distillation,
lifeblood,
pith
in the sense of sense
Definition
specific meaning
a noun which has two senses
Synonyms
meaning,
definition,
interpretation,
significance,
message,
import,
substance,
implication,
drift,
purport,
nuance,
gist,
signification,
denotation
in the sense of substance
Definition
the essential meaning of a speech, thought, or written article
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.