decode
verb
de·code
(ˌ)dē-ˈkōd 
decoded; decoding; decodes
1
a
: to convert (something, such as a coded message) into intelligible form
b
: to recognize and interpret (an electronic signal)
2
b
: to discover the underlying meaning of
decode the play's imagery
Did you know?
To decode is to take out of code and put into understandable language. (Its opposite is encode, "to put into coded form".) But dreams may sometimes also be decoded; psychologists often try to decode the images of their patients' dreams so as to understand the emotions behind them. And readers must often decode what a novel or story or poem is telling them, which may require two or three readings. Decipher is often a synonym, though we now use it when talking about reading difficult handwriting.
Examples of decode in a Sentence
Readers can easily decode the novel's imagery.
I'm trying to decode the expression on her face.
The box decodes the digital signal for your CD player.
Recent Examples on the Web
These 15 minutes of reading aren’t just about preparing kids to sleep or teaching them to decode words.
—
Erin Clabough, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
By decoding the core mechanics of turbulent fluctuations, this research offers a new lens through which to view everything from the vast circulation of global oceans to the high-pressure environments inside jet engines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
The journey to decode the universe's recipe for planet formation is long, but every interstellar visitor brings us closer.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
However the telegram could not be decoded because there was an issue finding the keys to the safe where the codebook was kept.
—Hope Coke, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decode
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Erin Clabough, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
By decoding the core mechanics of turbulent fluctuations, this research offers a new lens through which to view everything from the vast circulation of global oceans to the high-pressure environments inside jet engines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
The journey to decode the universe's recipe for planet formation is long, but every interstellar visitor brings us closer.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
However the telegram could not be decoded because there was an issue finding the keys to the safe where the codebook was kept.
—Hope Coke, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decode
Cite this Entry
“Decode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decode. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decode
verb
de·code
(ˈ)dē-ˈkōd
: to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
decoder
noun
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