What is restate? Pronunciation and usage in English

restate means . Learn how to pronounce and use restate through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of restate

restateverb

/ˌriːˈsteɪt//ˌriːˈsteɪt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "restate" in English. Here's a breakdown and a few ways to say it:

1. Phonetic Transcription (for the most accurate sound):

  • /rɪˈsteɪt/

Let's break that down:

  • rɪ: Like the "ri" in "rib" – a quick, unstressed "r" sound followed by a short "i" sound (like in "bit").
  • ˈsteɪ: This is the stressed syllable.
    • ste: Like "st" in "step".
    • -aɪ: Like the "i" in "bike" or "my" – a diphthong (a blended vowel sound).
  • t: A simple "t" sound.

2. How to say it aloud:

Here are a few ways to say it, with slightly different emphasis:

  • "Reh-stayt" - This is a very common and easily understood pronunciation. The "reh" is a reduced "r" sound (often barely audible).
  • "Ri-stayt" - This is also perfectly acceptable and emphasizes the initial "r".
  • "Reh-steyt" - A slight variation, with a bit more emphasis on the "ey" sound in "stay."

Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Stress: The stress is on the second syllable ("ste"). Make that syllable slightly louder and longer.
  • Reduced "r": In American English, the initial "r" is often pronounced as a very soft or even silent "r." Don't overemphasize it.
  • Diphthong: Make sure you pronounce the "aɪ" part of "stay" correctly – it’s a blended sound, not two separate vowels.

Resources for Hearing it:

To help me give you even more targeted guidance, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia) - Pronunciation can vary slightly between regions.

Usage and examples with the word restate in English

Let's break down how to use the word "restate" effectively in English. It essentially means to say something again, but with a specific intention. Here's a breakdown of its uses, with examples:

1. Basic Meaning: To Say Again

At its most fundamental, "restate" means to repeat something you’ve already said.

  • Example: "The professor asked the student to restate the main argument of the paper." (The student needs to repeat the argument in their own words.)
  • Example: "I’ll restate what I heard you say to make sure I understand correctly." (You're repeating to confirm comprehension.)

2. Clarifying & Rephrasing – The Most Common Use

This is the most frequent way "restate" is used. It's about presenting the same information in a slightly different way, often to improve clarity.

  • Example: “The report was confusing, so I needed to restate the key findings in simpler terms.” (You rewrote the findings for better understanding.)
  • Example: “Because the client wasn't satisfied with the initial explanation, we had to restate the process step-by-step.” (You repeated the process, breaking it down more clearly.)
  • Example: “Let me restate my proposal: we’ll increase marketing spending by 10% to boost sales.” (You’re repeating your proposal with a precise wording.)

3. Summarizing – Condensing Information

"Restating" can involve condensing something down to its core elements.

  • Example: “To summarize, the board voted to approve the budget and the CEO asked me to restate the key budgetary commitments.” (You’re giving a brief, concentrated version of the meeting’s outcome.)

4. In Legal and Formal Contexts (Often with Precision)

In legal documents, contracts, or formal instructions, “restate” is used to ensure accuracy and closeness to the original wording.

  • Example: “Please restate the terms of the agreement as they were originally defined.” (You’re requiring an exact repetition of the original terms.)
  • Example: “The judge instructed the witness to restate his testimony verbatim.” (The witness must repeat exactly what he said.)

Key Differences & Related Words:

  • Restate implies a modification of the original statement – usually for clarity, simplification, or accuracy.
  • Repeat: Simply means to say something again, without necessarily changing it.
  • Recap: To briefly summarize.
  • Summarize: To give a concise overview.
  • Rephrase: To express something in a different way.

Tips for Using "Restate" Effectively:

  • Be clear about your purpose: Are you clarifying, simplifying, or ensuring accuracy?
  • Don't just parrot: When you restate, try to express the information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Simply copying and pasting is not "restate."
  • Consider your audience: Adjust your language to suit the person you are restating to.

Could you give me a sentence you'd like me to analyze or help you use "restate" in? Or, would you like me to give you some practice sentences to try?

Practice with vocabulary restate

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. To ensure everyone grasped the core message, the speaker decided to ___________ the main conclusion of his research.
  2. The board requested that the finance team ___________ their budget projections, specifically highlighting the impact of the new regulations.
  3. Before we can approve the project, we need you to ___________ the detailed project timeline and resource allocation.
  4. It's crucial to ___________ your intentions clearly to avoid any miscommunication among team members.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. After receiving feedback, the project manager had to ___________ the team's objectives in a more concise way. a) contradict b) restate c) fabricate d) reiterate
  2. During the Q&A session, a participant asked the presenter to ___________ the key findings, as some details were unclear. a) analyze b) omit c) elaborate on d) restate
  3. To ensure full comprehension, the instructor often asks students to ___________ complex concepts in their own words. a) misinterpret b) summarize c) paraphrase d) restate
  4. The consultant advised the company to ___________ their marketing strategy to target a broader demographic. a) articulate b) refine c) overlook d) distort
  5. It's essential to ___________ the primary goals of the meeting at the very beginning to keep everyone focused. a) deviate from b) establish c) obscure d) disregard

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Can you explain the main idea again, but use different words this time? Rewrite:
  2. Original: The legal team requested that the witness's previous declaration be clearly summarized for the jury. Rewrite:
  3. Original: She simply repeated her earlier arguments without offering any new evidence to support them. Rewrite:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. restate
  2. restate
  3. review / examine / present
  4. articulate / express

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) restate, d) reiterate
  2. d) restate
  3. b) summarize, c) paraphrase, d) restate
  4. b) refine
  5. b) establish

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: Can you restate the main idea using different words this time?
  2. Rewrite: The legal team requested a clear restatement of the witness's previous declaration for the jury.
  3. Rewrite: She merely reiterated her earlier arguments without offering any new evidence to support them.

Comment ()