digest

1 of 2

noun

di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
1
: a summation or condensation of a body of information: such as
a
: a systematic compilation of legal rules, statutes, or decisions
b
: a periodical devoted to condensed versions of previously published articles
2
: a product of digestion

digest

2 of 2

verb

di·​gest dī-ˈjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
də-
digested; digesting; digests

transitive verb

1
: to distribute or arrange systematically : classify
2
: to convert (food) into absorbable form
3
: to take into the mind or memory
especially : to assimilate mentally
4
a
: to soften, decompose, or break down by heat and moisture or chemical action
DNA digested by restriction enzymes
b
: to extract soluble ingredients from by warming with a liquid
5
: to compress into a short summary
6
: absorb sense 2
the capacity of the U.S. to digest immigrants

intransitive verb

1
: to digest food
2
: to become digested

Examples of digest in a Sentence

Noun a digest of the laws a digest of yesterday's departmental meeting Verb He has trouble digesting certain foods. It will take me a while to digest this news.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Read the full edition More Atlanta stories Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Atlanta. Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024 News Why Houston allergies are so bad Sep 18, 2024 Go deeper (1 min. read) News New high school to develop future health workers Sep 17, 2024 Go deeper (1 min. read) Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Houston. Shafaq Patel, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
This bloom of bugs ate up nutrients that the person would’ve otherwise digested, triggering deficiencies and symptoms like diarrhea and fatigue. Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024 This solution provides insights in a much easier way to digest. Steve Banker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for digest 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'digest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, systematic arrangement of laws, from Latin digesta, from neuter plural of digestus, past participle of digerere to arrange, distribute, digest, from dis- + gerere to carry

Verb

Middle English, from Latin digestus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of digest was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near digest

Cite this Entry

“Digest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digest. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

digest

1 of 2 noun
di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
: a body of information or a literary work in shortened form
a digest of the laws

digest

2 of 2 verb
di·​gest dī-ˈjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
də-
1
: to think over and arrange in the mind
digest the news
2
: to convert food into simpler forms that can be taken in and used by the body
3
4
: to become digested

Medical Definition

digest

1 of 2 noun
di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
: a product of digestion

digest

2 of 2 transitive verb
di·​gest dī-ˈjest How to pronounce digest (audio) də- How to pronounce digest (audio)
1
: to convert (food) into absorbable form
2
a
: to soften, decompose, or break down by heat and moisture or chemicals
b
: to extract soluble ingredients from by warming with a liquid

intransitive verb

1
: to digest food
2
: to become digested

Legal Definition

digest

noun
di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest How to pronounce digest (audio)
: a compilation of legal rules, statutes, or decisions systematically arranged
Etymology

Noun

Latin digesta, from neuter plural of digestus, past participle of digerere to disperse, arrange

More from Merriam-Webster on digest

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