Standard Lemma guide

parenthesize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /pəˈɹɛnθ.ə.saɪz/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To place text in parentheses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1918, William Strunk Jr., Elements of Style, Ithaca, N.Y.: Priv. print. [Geneva, N.Y.: Press of W. F. Humphrey], http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk2.html When a wholly detached expression or sentence is parenthesized, the final stop comes before the last mark of parenthesis.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To interject.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1871, Alexander Innes Shand, Against Time, Littell & Gay, p. 66, https://books.google.ca/books?id=BS8nAAAAMAAJ&q=%22parenthesized%22+OR+%22parenthesised%22&dq=%22parenthesized%22+OR+%22parenthesised%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3ibvH4KHNAhUI4GMKHZRYAQoQ6AEISTAI "Heaven grant it!" parenthesized Lord Rushbrook.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English parenthesis Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English parenthesize From parenthesis + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: tussen haakjes zetten — place in parentheses
  • Finnish: laittaa sulkuihin — place in parentheses
  • Finnish: laittaa sulkeisiin — place in parentheses
  • French: mettre entre parenthèses — place in parentheses
  • German: klammern — place in parentheses
  • German: in Klammern setzen — place in parentheses
  • German: einklammern — place in parentheses
  • Polish: nawiasować — place in parentheses
  • Portuguese: pôr entre parêntesis — place in parentheses
  • Spanish: poner entre paréntesis — place in parentheses
  • Spanish: parentetizar — place in parentheses
  • Swedish: sätta i parentes — place in parentheses