analyze

verb

an·​a·​lyze ˈa-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed; analyzing
Synonyms of analyzenext

transitive verb

1
: to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by analysis
2
: to subject to scientific or grammatical analysis
chemically analyze a specimen
analyze a sentence
3
: psychoanalyze
analyzability
ˌa-nə-ˌlī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce analyze (audio)
noun
analyzable
ˈa-nə-ˌlī-zə-bəl How to pronounce analyze (audio)
adjective
analyzer
ˈa-nə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce analyze (audio)
noun

Synonyms of analyze

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Choose the Right Synonym for analyze

analyze, dissect, break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements.

analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

analyzed the collected data

dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

commentators dissected every word of the speech

break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

break down the budget

Examples of analyze in a Sentence

While Wroe offers some basic biographical information and quotes copiously from Shelley's writings, she does not tell a chronological story or analyze individual poems. —Adam Kirsch, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2007
They are not doing the math. Doing the math would mean demonstrating that the voters' intuitive judgments are roughly what they would get if they analyzed the likely effects of candidates' policies, and this is a difficult calculation to perform. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2004
Ms. Magazine's online daily weblog, written by Christine Cupaiuolo, analyzes the representation of women in media and popular culture. Here are excerpts from recent postings. —Ms., Fall 2003
The data was recorded and analyzed by computer. We took the sample to be chemically analyzed by a lab. Researchers are busy analyzing the results of the study. The bacteria were analyzed under a powerful microscope.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Underground, buried fiberoptic cables can sense movement, capturing data that is also then analyzed by AI. — Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 2 July 2026 Vaughn Dalzell and Jay Croucher analyze Portugal's outlook for a round-of-32 matchup against Croatia. — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026 Who said what Amnesty analyzed video and documentary evidence and interviewed 246 people for its report, including 208 survivors, 39 of whom were children. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 2 July 2026 Brazil’s team, meanwhile, decamped to Orlando, Florida, where Laitano affixed players with sweat-collection patches and analyzed their fluid and electrolyte loss during workouts to concoct a hydration regimen for each person. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for analyze

Word History

Etymology

probably by back-formation from analysis, with -is taken as a suffix, and -ys- identified with the verb-forming suffix -ize, spelled -yze/-ize/-yse/-ise in the 17th century

Note: Alternatively, the verb could arise by haplology from*analysise. Note that analysis comes into vernacular use only a couple decades before the verb. Compare analyst.

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of analyze was in 1587

Rhymes for analyze

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Browse Nearby Words

analyzation
analyze
a name to conjure with
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Cite this Entry

“Analyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analyze. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

analyze

verb
an·​a·​lyze ˈan-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed; analyzing
: to study or find out the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
analyzable
-ˌī-zə-bəl How to pronounce analyze (audio)
adjective
analyzer noun

Medical Definition

analyze

transitive verb
an·​a·​lyze
variants or British analyse
ˈan-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce analyze (audio)
analyzed or British analysed; analyzing or British analysing
1
: to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
especially : to examine by chemical analysis
2
: psychoanalyze

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