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
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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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The Titan's Curse
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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 White House did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment on the latest lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Their spokesman declined to confirm the arrival, telling the BBC "this is not something we would comment on".
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
“I was just like, OK, that’s the only thing I need for the rest of my life. If I ever read a comment where someone’s like, ‘She’s rubbish,’ well, Stevie Wonder said that I wasn’t.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Meta didn’t respond to MarketWatch’s request for comment.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
Beowulf was too busy examining the velocipede to comment.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
The comments come after weeks of increasingly complicated negotiations and public disagreements between the two clubs.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
The comments came as key Pakistani mediators reported positive talks with Iran's president on Monday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
An independent arbitrator ordered the Washington Post to reinstate Karen Attiah, finding the newspaper wrongly terminated the columnist over comments she made following the shooting death of Charlie Kirk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Bonta’s comments appeared as a show of strength after major court wins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
If they’d never made those comments, Webb would’ve never heard about it and said something, and Coach Noles and Brayden would still be on the Renegades.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
House Speaker Dustin Burrows also has not publicly commented.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
The North hasn’t commented publicly, although the president, without providing evidence, says Mr. Kim has responded and was “very positive.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Kinda sad that its gotten to the point where they have to put signs like this up,” one person commented on X.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The Pakistani government has not publicly commented on the court ruling.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
“That’s terrible,” Annie commented when I read it out loud.
From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman
Rangers and Leeds have both said they will not be commenting.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. has a policy of not commenting on specific cases, but added that “every visa decision is a national security decision.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
We’re going to have commenting, watch lists and the ability to share offline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Grande’s stanbase quickly retaliated, saying that those commenting on her weight were bringing back body-shaming and tabloid-era hypercriticism.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
All my life I’ve had a body worth commenting on and if living in my skin has taught me anything it’s that if it’s not your body, it’s not yours to comment on.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions 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.
