contextualize
to place something within its broader context so that it can be properly understood and assessed
Word origin: From Latin contexere, to weave together.
Contextualize in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing contextualize in a sentence.
The historian urged readers to contextualize the treaty within the broader political climate of the era.
A good editor will contextualize a quotation so that readers grasp the circumstances under which it was spoken.
Using “contextualize” well
Contextualize means to set something within its surrounding circumstances so it can be understood properly, aligning it with situate and frame. Its opposite, to isolate or abstract, strips that surrounding detail away.
More GRE words starting with C
a small secret group plotting against a government or authority
having a hidden or mysterious meaning understood only by initiates
a harsh, jarring mixture of sounds
to obtain something by begging or sponging off others
falling off or shed at an early stage, especially of plant parts
to coax someone into doing something through flattery or persuasion
an event causing great damage, loss, or distress
misty, dim, or dark, and therefore obscure
Questions about “contextualize”
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