Analyze
/ˈænəˌlaɪz/
verbB2
Definition
Analyze means to look at something in detail and think about its parts one by one. This helps you understand how it works or what it means. People analyze things like data, problems, or texts to find answers or make decisions.
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See It in Action
To study or examine something carefully by looking at its parts
- •The teacher asked us to analyze the poem for its meaning.
- •Scientists analyze data to find patterns.
- •We need to analyze the problem before finding a solution.
To explain or describe something by breaking it into smaller parts
- •The report analyzes the causes of climate change.
- •She analyzed the results of the experiment in detail.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "analyze" like "look" or "check," but more careful and detailed — you don’t just see it, you study every part
- ✓Picture a detective examining clues closely with a magnifying glass to understand a mystery
- ✓It’s the feeling when you try to solve a puzzle by looking at each piece carefully before putting it together
- ✓Sounds like "AN-a-lyze" → imagine someone saying "Ann lies" and you carefully check if her story is true or not
- ✓In stories, scientists or detectives analyze evidence to find the truth or solve problems
- ✓NOT like "guess" (which is fast and not detailed); analyze is slow and careful thinking
- ✓NOT like "look" (simple seeing), analyze means breaking down and understanding parts deeply
- ✓NOT like "decide" (making a choice), analyze is the step before deciding, gathering information
Try Other Words
- •Examine: to look at something carefully (Use when focusing on close observation)
- •Inspect: to check something closely (Use for physical or detailed checking)
- •Evaluate: to judge the value or quality of something (Use when making a decision based on analysis)
- •Investigate: to look into something to find facts (Use when searching for information, often in problems or mysteries)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ana-" (up, back, again) + "lyze" (from Greek "lysis," meaning to loosen or break apart)
- •Etymology: From Greek "analyein," meaning to break up or loosen apart for study
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 16th century with the meaning of breaking down information to understand it
- •Modern usage: Used in science, education, business, and everyday life to mean careful examination and understanding
Reflect & Connect
•How do you analyze a problem when you don’t know all the facts?
•Can analyzing something too much make it harder to make a decision? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.To solve the mystery, the detective had to analyze the ___ carefully for clues.
2.When you analyze a text, you look at the meaning of each ___ to understand the whole.
3.People analyze data ___ to find important patterns or mistakes.
4.Unlike guessing, analyzing requires ___ thinking and attention to detail.
5.After you analyze the problem, you can ___ the best solution.
6.Scientists analyze results to ___ if their ideas were correct.
7.If you analyze too much, sometimes it can make the decision ___ or confusing.