abstract
AB-strakt
Abstract (noun) means a short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper. Example: “Read the abstract before deciding whether to download the full study.”
noun
1
A short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper.
"Read the abstract before deciding whether to download the full study."
adj
1
Existing as an idea rather than a physical, concrete thing.
"Justice is an abstract concept that is hard to define precisely."
"The lecture felt too abstract to be useful in practice."
2
Relating to art that uses shapes, colours, and forms rather than realistic depictions.
"The gallery's newest wing is devoted entirely to abstract art."
verb
1
To take out or separate a general idea or quality from something specific.
"The researchers abstracted several key themes from the interviews."
How to use abstract
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a short summary of a longer piece of writing, or something conceptual and not physically real — as opposed to "concrete."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
abstract concept
abstract art
write an abstract
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Word forms
- Plural
- abstracts
- Third person singular
- abstracts
- Past tense
- abstracted
- Comparative
- more abstract, abstracter
- Superlative
- most abstract, abstractest
- Archaic forms
- abstractest, abstractedst, abstracteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Read the _____ before deciding whether to download the full study.
Etymology
From Latin abstractus, "drawn away," the past participle of abstraho, formed from abs- ("away") plus traho ("to pull, draw").
Synonyms
View more →
summary
synopsis
précis
theoretical
conceptual
intangible
outline
abstraction
nonobjective
abstractionist
nonfigurative
swipe
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “abstract” mean?
The word “abstract” means a short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper. In plain terms, either a short summary of a longer piece of writing, or something conceptual and not physically real — as opposed to "concrete.".
How do you pronounce “abstract”?
“Abstract” is pronounced AB-strakt (/ˈæbˌstɹækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abstract” in a sentence?
Here is “abstract” used in a sentence: “Read the abstract before deciding whether to download the full study.”
What is another word for “abstract”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abstract” include remove, separate, take away and withdraw.
What part of speech is “abstract”?
Depending on how it is used, “abstract” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “abstract” come from?
The word “abstract” comes from Latin. From Latin abstractus, "drawn away," the past participle of abstraho, formed from abs- ("away") plus traho ("to pull, draw").
Is “abstract” a common word?
“Abstract” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “abstract” have?
“Abstract” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper.
What is the difference between "abstract" and "concrete"?
"Abstract" describes something that exists as an idea rather than a physical, concrete thing, such as freedom or justice. "Concrete" describes something real and tangible that you can perceive with the senses, such as a chair or a rock. Abstract ideas are conceptual, while concrete things are physical.
What is the difference between an "abstract" and a "summary"?
An "abstract" is a short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper, and it follows conventions such as stating the aim, method, and findings. A "summary" is any condensed version of a text and can appear anywhere. Every abstract is a kind of summary, but "abstract" is reserved mainly for scholarly writing.
What is the difference between an "abstract" and an "introduction"?
An "abstract" is a brief, standalone summary of an entire paper, including its results and conclusions, and it usually sits before the main text. An "introduction" sets up the topic, background, and aims but does not reveal the findings. The abstract summarises the whole study, while the introduction only opens it.
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