summary
summary — noun
1. A written or spoken version that presents only the key points of a longer text,
A written or spoken version that presents only the key points of a longer text, a discussion, or an event, leaving out minor details.
Tanvi wrote a one-page summary of the research paper for her classmates.
summary + of + noun phrase for describing a document's key points
The meeting summary listed the three decisions the team had reached.
Before the exam, Linh read a summary of each chapter to refresh her memory.
Christopher asked his assistant to prepare a summary of last week's sales figures.
The newspaper printed a short summary of the court case for its readers.
- synopsis
more literary; used for plots of books, films, or plays
- digest
suggests a condensed collection of key information, often published regularly
- abstract
more formal; used for academic articles, research papers, or legal documents
- outline
emphasises structure and organisation of main ideas rather than full content
- full text
the complete original document rather than a condensed version
文法句型
summary + of + noun phrase
常見錯誤
summary — adjective
1. Giving only the most important information, without extra details — used to desc
Giving only the most important information, without extra details — used to describe a report, table, or explanation that is intentionally brief.
The manager asked for a summary report of the project by Friday.
summary report — common business collocation
Élise gave a summary description of the film without revealing the ending.
A summary table at the end of the book lists all the key dates.
Professor Okafor provided a summary overview of the course in the first lecture.
- detailed
includes full information rather than just the main points
文法句型
summary + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun (attributive position). You would say 'a summary report', not 'the report was summary'.
常見錯誤
2. Carried out swiftly without going through the usual formal or legal steps — most
Carried out swiftly without going through the usual formal or legal steps — most often used for punishments, dismissals, or court procedures that skip the standard process.
The employee received a summary dismissal after being caught stealing from the office.
summary dismissal — formal/legal collocation for instant firing
In some jurisdictions, the law allows summary trials for minor traffic offences.
The court granted summary judgment because the defendant had no evidence to support his case.
Students who broke the dormitory rules faced summary eviction by the housing office.
- immediate
focuses on timing (right away) rather than skipping procedures
- peremptory
more formal; suggests the action cannot be challenged or delayed
- speedy
less formal; emphasises quickness without the legal connotation
- due-process
following proper legal procedures and allowing the person a fair hearing
- formal
carried out according to established rules and procedures
文法句型
summary + noun (legal/formal)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal contexts: 'summary judgment', 'summary trial', 'summary dismissal'. The sense implies that a shortcut is taken — not just speed, but the skipping of procedural safeguards that would normally apply.