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
digested; digesting; digests
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
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
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
The sympathetic system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic system activates the body’s rest-and-digest mode.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025
Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Renner says fans will have a lot to digest this this season, as the actors did as well.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for digest
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Noun
In its easy-to-digest design, users first take a detailed personality test, then are partnered with compatible singles.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
The sympathetic system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic system activates the body’s rest-and-digest mode.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
But grass is difficult to digest for the mammal.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Renner says fans will have a lot to digest this this season, as the actors did as well.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for digest
Cite this Entry
“Digest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digest. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
digest
1 of 2 noun
di·gest
ˈdī-ˌjest 
: 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
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
4
: to become digested
Medical Definition
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
Legal Definition
digest
noun
di·gest
ˈdī-ˌjest
: 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
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