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commentate

[ kom-uhn-teyt ]
/ ˈkɒm ənˌteɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR commentate

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. 2020

Words related to commentate

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

Example sentences from the Web for commentate

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