abstract

/ˈæbstrækt/

Say it: AB-strakt

1. adjective Existing as a thought or an idea rather than having a physical or concrete existence.
Concepts like 'truth' and 'justice' are abstract, as you can't hold them in your hand.
2. noun A brief summary of the main points of a longer work, such as an article, speech, or research paper.
Before reading the full study, I reviewed the abstract to see if it was relevant to my work.
3. adjective Relating to art that does not attempt to represent reality, but uses shapes, colors, and forms to achieve its effect.
The museum's modern wing is filled with abstract paintings by artists like Pollock and Rothko.
4. verb To extract or remove something, or to consider an idea separately from specific examples.
It's a useful skill to abstract a general principle from a set of specific case studies.

📖 Seen in the wild

Philosophy often deals with abstract concepts like truth and justice.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ abstract in a sentence

The CEO's vision for the company's future was too abstract for the employees to understand.
In the abstract, your plan sounds great, but I'm not sure how it will work in practice.
The scientific journal requires a 300-word abstract at the beginning of every submitted article.
He found it difficult to move from abstract theory to concrete application.
Her latest sculpture is a purely abstract form, meant to evoke a feeling rather than depict an object.
The legal team tried to abstract a key precedent from the complex ruling.
Children often find it easier to think about concrete objects than abstract ideas.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

theoretical conceptual intangible nonrepresentational hypothetical summary outline synopsis

theoretical · implies something based on theory rather than practical application.

conceptual · emphasizes that something exists only as a concept or in the mind.

intangible · highlights the quality of not being touchable or physical.

nonrepresentational · used specifically for art that does not depict recognizable objects.

Opposites: concrete, tangible, physical, specific, representational

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'abstract' comes from the Latin 'abstractus', meaning 'drawn away'. This origin neatly captures its core meaning, whether it's an idea 'drawn away' from a physical object or a summary 'drawn away' from a longer text.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

abstract conceptabstract ideaabstract artabstract reasoningin the abstractsubmit an abstract

Pay attention to pronunciation, which depends on the part of speech. The noun and adjective are stressed on the first syllable (AB-strakt), while the verb is stressed on the second (ab-STRAKT). Don't confuse 'abstract' with 'vague'. Abstract ideas, like mathematical formulas, can be very precise, whereas vague ideas lack clarity and detail.

Word family: abstraction, abstractly, abstracted, abstractness

💬 Quick answers

What does abstract mean in simple terms?

It describes something that is an idea or concept, not a physical object. For example, 'love' is an abstract idea, while a 'heart-shaped box of chocolates' is a concrete object.

What is the difference between abstract and concrete?

Abstract refers to intangible ideas, qualities, or concepts (like 'freedom' or 'sadness'). Concrete refers to physical things you can perceive with your senses (like a 'tree' or a 'car').

How is the word 'abstract' pronounced?

The pronunciation changes with its function. As a noun or adjective, the stress is on the first syllable: AB-strakt. As a verb, the stress is on the second: ab-STRAKT.

What is an abstract in writing?

In academic or professional writing, an abstract is a short, standalone summary of a longer work. It gives the reader a quick overview of the main points, methods, and conclusions.

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