misinterpret

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ˌmɪsɪnˈtɜːrprɪt/

KK: /mɪsˈɪntərprɪt/

transitive verb

Definition

To understand or explain something incorrectly.

Example

She misinterpreted his words and thought he was angry.

Tense Forms

Past: misinterpreted

Past Participle: misinterpreted

Conversation

I think you might have misinterpret what she meant in that email.

Really? I thought she was being clear about her plans.

Yeah, sometimes it’s easy to misinterpret things over text.

True, I guess I should ask her for clarification.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

misread

misjudge

mistake

Antonyms

understand

interpret

clarify

Root Explanation

Misinterpret → It is formed from "mis-" (meaning wrongly) and "interpretari" (meaning to explain or understand). The word describes the act of understanding or explaining something incorrectly or in a wrong way.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mis-' meaning wrongly, and 'interpret' meaning to explain. This helps you remember that misinterpret means to explain something wrongly.

Visually Confused Words