analyze

verb

an·​a·​lyze ˈa-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed; analyzing
Synonyms of analyzenext

transitive verb

1
: to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by analysis
2
: to subject to scientific or grammatical analysis
chemically analyze a specimen
analyze a sentence
3
: psychoanalyze
analyzability
ˌa-nə-ˌlī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce analyze (audio)
noun
analyzable
ˈa-nə-ˌlī-zə-bəl How to pronounce analyze (audio)
adjective
analyzer
ˈa-nə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce analyze (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for analyze

analyze, dissect, break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements.

analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

analyzed the collected data

dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

commentators dissected every word of the speech

break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

break down the budget

Examples of analyze in a Sentence

While Wroe offers some basic biographical information and quotes copiously from Shelley's writings, she does not tell a chronological story or analyze individual poems. — Adam Kirsch, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2007
They are not doing the math. Doing the math would mean demonstrating that the voters' intuitive judgments are roughly what they would get if they analyzed the likely effects of candidates' policies, and this is a difficult calculation to perform. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2004
Ms. Magazine's online daily weblog, written by Christine Cupaiuolo, analyzes the representation of women in media and popular culture. Here are excerpts from recent postings. — Ms., Fall 2003
The data was recorded and analyzed by computer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Leverage text analytics tools to analyze transcripts and identify key themes and patterns. — Beth Worthy, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Experts analyzed the ring, comparing it to similar objects from the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 In the new study, researchers analyzed subsidiary burials, or the remains of people that were buried near or around a central burial. — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 His knack for reading teammates’ energy and needs is just as sound as his ability to analyze an opponent’s game plan during live action. — James Jackson, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for analyze

Word History

Etymology

probably by back-formation from analysis, with -is taken as a suffix, and -ys- identified with the verb-forming suffix -ize, spelled -yze/-ize/-yse/-ise in the 17th century

Note: Alternatively, the verb could arise by haplology from*analysise. Note that analysis comes into vernacular use only a couple decades before the verb. Compare analyst.

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of analyze was in 1587

Rhymes for analyze

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Browse Nearby Words

analyzation
analyze
a name to conjure with
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Analyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analyze. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

analyze

verb
an·​a·​lyze ˈan-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed; analyzing
: to study or find out the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
analyzable
-ˌī-zə-bəl How to pronounce analyze (audio)
adjective
analyzer noun

Medical Definition

analyze

transitive verb
an·​a·​lyze
variants or British analyse
ˈan-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed or British analysed; analyzing or British analysing
1
: to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
especially : to examine by chemical analysis
2
: psychoanalyze

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