parentheses Definition
a pair of curved marks ( ) used to enclose a word or phrase that explains or qualifies something in a written or printed text, or to group digits or terms in mathematics or symbolic logic.
Using parentheses: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "parentheses" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The sentence is unclear without the parentheses.
Example
The formula should be written with parentheses around the denominator.
Example
In the equation (x + y)² = x² + 2xy + y², the parentheses indicate that the sum of x and y should be squared.
parentheses Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for parentheses
- brackets
- round brackets
- curved brackets
Phrases with parentheses
enclosed in parentheses
Example
The author added a note in parentheses to clarify the meaning of the word.
open/close parentheses
to start/end a section enclosed in parentheses
Example
Don't forget to close the parentheses after you finish the equation.
a comment or statement that is not directly related to the main subject of a conversation or text
Example
She made a parenthetical remark about the weather before returning to the main topic.
Origins of parentheses
from Late Latin 'parenthesis', from Greek 'parénthēsis', meaning 'insertion'
Summary: parentheses in Brief
Parentheses [pəˈrɛnθəsiːz] are a pair of curved marks used to enclose a word or phrase that explains or qualifies something in a text, or to group digits or terms in math or logic. They are also known as 'brackets' or 'round brackets.' Parentheses can be used to add additional information to a sentence, as in 'The sentence is unclear without the parentheses,' or to group terms together in an equation, as in '(x + y)² = x² + 2xy + y².'
