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Definition of paragraph in English:

paragraph

Pronunciation /ˈperəˌɡraf/ /ˈpɛrəˌɡræf/

See synonyms for paragraph

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noun

  • A distinct section of a piece of writing, usually dealing with a single theme and indicated by a new line, indentation, or numbering.

    ‘the concluding paragraph’
    • ‘the information set out in paragraph 3’
    • ‘Also, does anyone know how to separate paragraphs with a line or something on a chapter?’
    • ‘Would your Honour like me to just refer to the specific paragraphs where the sections have been amended?’
    • ‘I mentioned, a few paragraphs ago, the conceptual structure of a plural noun, such as houses.’
    • ‘The transcripts were hand-written with many lines and paragraphs crossed out.’
    • ‘In the process of drafting their material, they may combine and recombine paragraphs.’
    • ‘The style is similar to that of a textbook with several indented paragraphs of quotes.’
    • ‘Each chapter has a useful set of concluding paragraphs for a quick analysis of theme studies.’
    • ‘In a series of numbered paragraphs, Lord Taylor summarised the position.’
    • ‘The following paragraphs summarise or refer to your main terms and conditions of service as they apply at present.’
    • ‘He was reading through the file, staring at a single name in one of the paragraphs in the report.’
    • ‘The article is all but fourteen paragraphs long but the real stuffing of the reflective piece is the last five.’
    • ‘I have been trying to find a detailed description of this but there are only short paragraphs.’
    • ‘I'm going to have to learn to summarise the days events and my thoughts into a few paragraphs.’
    • ‘Now go back and re-read the first paragraph or the next sentence will sound a little strange.’
    • ‘Entries are usually fairly short, maybe a sentence or a paragraph, but can be much longer.’
    • ‘It just took fifteen minutes to write that paragraph and I'm still not sure whether it makes any sense.’
    • ‘I'm going to try to summarize in a few paragraphs the qualities that make up a good player.’
    • ‘We agree with the views expressed in that paragraph but we emphasise that today we would not have allowed that appeal.’
    • ‘In the first paragraph the trial judge accurately set out the first two issues.’
    • ‘Then in the concluding three paragraphs the doctor summarises his opinion.’
    section, subdivision, part, subsection, division, portion, segment, bit, passage, clause
    report, article, item, piece, notice, write-up, note, mention
    View synonyms

transitive verb

[with object]

  • Arrange (a piece of writing) in paragraphs.

    as noun paragraphing ‘his style deploys a lack of conventional paragraphing’
    • ‘It would read even faster had he paragraphed the dialogue out, but then again, that would have doubled the length of an already weighty book.’
    • ‘This would have got 9 or 10 if it had been paragraphed from the start.’

Origin

Late 15th century from French paragraphe, via medieval Latin from Greek paragraphos ‘short stroke marking a break in sense’, from para- ‘beside’ + graphein ‘write’.