comment
Americannoun
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comments
plural
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a remark, observation, or criticism.
a comment about the weather.
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His frequent absences gave rise to comment.
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a criticism or interpretation, often by implication or suggestion.
The play is a comment on modern society.
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Digital Technology. a user response to published content on the internet, written in a designated “Comments” section, often below the published content.
There were many online comments criticizing the author.
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a note in explanation, expansion, or criticism of a passage in a book, article, or the like; annotation.
- Synonyms:
- commentary, addendum
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explanatory or critical matter added to a text.
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Also called rheme. Linguistics. the part of a sentence that communicates new information about the topic.
verb (used without object)
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comments,
present (3rd person singular)
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commented,
past participle, past
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commenting
present participle
verb (used with object)
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comments,
present (3rd person singular)
-
commented,
past participle, past
-
commenting
present participle
noun
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a remark, criticism, or observation
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talk or gossip
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a note explaining or criticizing a passage in a text
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explanatory or critical matter added to a text
verb
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to remark or express an opinion
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(intr) to write notes explaining or criticizing a text
Usage
What is a basic definition of comment? A comment is a remark or observation that expresses a person’s observation or criticism. To comment is to make such a remark. A comment is also a reply from a user to published material on the internet. Comment has several other senses as a noun and a verb. When people make comments, they are giving their opinion or perspective on something in the form of an observation or criticism. Comments are usually short statements. The word commentary is used for longer criticism or a group of comments. A person who offers a comment is a commenter.
- Real-life examples: Managers often want (or pretend to want) comments from their staff when looking for feedback about something. When people chat, they often share comments about many topics, such as sports, the weather, or politics. A backseat driver delivers unwanted comments about another person’s driving abilities.
- Used in a sentence: The contractor listened to the owner’s comments about what the new house should look like.
- Used in a sentence: The company didn’t want to comment on the scandal.
- Real-life examples: News websites and YouTube videos allow users to post comments. Most websites will ban or suspend users who post especially profane or offensive comments.
- Used in a sentence: The video resulted in a lot of supportive comments from fans.
Synonym Usage
See remark.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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commentsimple
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commentssimple
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have commentedperfect
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has commentedperfect
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am commentingprogressive
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are commentingprogressive
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is commentingprogressive
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have been commentingperfect progressive
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has been commentingperfect progressive
Past
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commentedsimple
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had commentedperfect
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was commentingprogressive
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were commentingprogressive
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had been commentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of comment
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English com(m)ent “explanatory note, comment,” from Old French comment “commentary,” from Late Latin commentum “interpretation, comment,” from Latin: “device, fabrication, falsehood,” noun use of neuter of commentus “contrived,” past participle of comminīscī “to contrive, devise”; cf. com- ( def. ), mental 1 ( def. )
Explanation
To comment is to state your opinion or make a remark on something. Of course, it's good to know when to hold your tongue. Comment on the latest movie? No problem. Comment on the annoying airport security measures while having your baggage checked? Better not. A written explanation or criticism is a comment. Your teacher's comments on your paper may thrill you when you do excellent work or unnerve you when you receive the message, "See me!" If you state your opinion, this is also a comment. Politicians talking to the press are fond of the statement, "No comment," which means they don't want to express an opinion — or more likely, they don't want to get in trouble.
Vocabulary lists containing comment
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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"Made You Laugh"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Government of Jersey has been approached for a comment.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
“The real test of a business is how it performs under pressure,” Ostrover said in a response to a request for comment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
“I’ll be recruiting,” he interjected with a smile, as Skubal declined to comment on free agency, saying it was too soon to try to predict what the future would hold for him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Washington's envoy to the UN Mike Waltz refused to comment on the report, but said Friday: "We have always said we just simply need the best."
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
For a moment, Dad looks like he wants to shoot a comment back at her, but instead he nods and offers her a tense smile.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
So here we go, I've ranked mine below - you can have your say in the comments, too.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Key policymakers including New York Fed President John Williams and Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, in subsequent comments, made clear there was no urgency for a back-to-back increase at the Oct. 29-ending meeting.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Opponents would have 45 days to submit public comments on draft environmental impact statements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
His comments go much further than the gentle diplomatic pressure Malaysia's government has so far applied, but they reflect a simmering frustration with Indonesia's inability to control the fires.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
On a top-secret copy, shared with his colleagues, William jotted comments in the margins.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
"She seemed to work a lot," commented another neighbor, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
North Rhine Westphalia Police said the robot's 16-year-old owner and his companion, 19, are believed to have streamed the incident live on social media and commented on it.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Paxton has not commented publicly about his use of the taxpayer-funded detail.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
“Didn’t even think those could go that fast!” one of Mauri’s Strava’s followers commented on a recent run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Expecting the worst, she held her head high to avoid meeting the gaze of other shoppers, but no one commented, and if anyone stared at me, she didn’t notice.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
"It upsets me no end to see people commenting on social media about something that they don't have firm facts on," she said.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
After reopening on Wednesday, Grimston Medical Centre said it would not be commenting "on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death" of Hannah Cain.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
That makes her unique among all those commenting on the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran situation.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
A Salvadoran woman who had lived in the U.S. since the 1980s held a summons for an immigration hearing while commenting that Navarette looked better than she had in a while.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
But his friends keep commenting that he’s lost in space.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
