commentate

[kom-uh n-teyt]

See more synonyms for commentate on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of commentate

First recorded in 1785–95; back formation from commentator

Can be confusedcomment commentate (see usage note at the current entry)

Usage note

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for commentate

portray, depict, read, illustrate, explain, describe, clarify, understand, construe, decipher, solve, translate, enact, view, note, say, declare, mention, observe, utter

Examples from the Web for commentate

Contemporary Examples of commentate

What 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

British Dictionary definitions for commentate

commentate

verb

(intr) to serve as a commentator
(tr) US to make a commentary on (a text, event, etc)

usage

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for commentate

1794, "to comment," back-formation from commentator. Meaning "to deliver commentary" is attested from 1939 (implied in commentating). Related: Commentated; commentating.