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commentate
[ kom-uhn-teyt ]
/ ˈkɒm ənˌteɪt /
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verb (used with object), com·men·tat·ed, com·men·tat·ing.
to deliver a commentary on: to commentate a fashion show.
to write a commentary on; annotate: to commentate the Book of Job.
verb (used without object), com·men·tat·ed, com·men·tat·ing.
to serve as a commentator: The senior staff member will commentate, as usual.
to make explanatory or critical comments, as upon a text: the manuscript on which I am commentating.
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Origin of commentate
First recorded in 1785–95; back formation from commentator
historical usage of commentate
Since the late 18th century, commentate has been used transitively with the meaning “to annotate” and, since the mid 19th, intransitively with the meaning “to make explanatory or critical comments.” These uses are now rare. Recently, commentate has developed the additional transitive sense “to deliver a commentary on” and the intransitive sense “to serve as a commentator.” These uses are occasionally criticized as journalistic jargon.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH commentate
comment, commentate (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby commentate
commensurable, commensurate, comment, commentariat, commentary, commentate, commentative, commentator, commerce, Commerce City, commercial
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use commentate in a sentence
When he’s not writing and commentating for media outlets around the world, Reich is a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
The system is ‘rigged’: Robert Reich on the Supreme Court, economic inequality, and his Twitter beef with Elon Musk|reymashayekhi|October 12, 2020|FortuneWhat happens when a British guy who knows nothing about baseball tries to commentate a baseball game?
Viral Video of the Day: Bad British MLB Commentary|Alex Chancey, Ben Teitelbaum|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
British Dictionary definitions for commentate
commentate
/ (ˈkɒmənˌteɪt) /
verb
(intr) to serve as a commentator
(tr) US to make a commentary on (a text, event, etc)
usage for commentate
The verb commentate, derived from commentator, is sometimes used as a synonym for comment on or provide a commentary for. It is not yet fully accepted as standard, though widespread in sports reporting and journalism
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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