commentate
Americanverb (used with object)
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commentates,
present (3rd person singular)
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commentated,
past participle, past
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commentating
present participle
-
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)
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commentates,
present (3rd person singular)
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commentated,
past participle, past
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commentating
present participle
-
to serve as a commentator.
The senior staff member will commentate, as usual.
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to make explanatory or critical comments, as upon a text.
the manuscript on which I am commentating.
verb
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(intr) to serve as a commentator
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(tr) 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
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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commentatesimple
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commentatessimple
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have commentatedperfect
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has commentatedperfect
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am commentatingprogressive
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are commentatingprogressive
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is commentatingprogressive
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have been commentatingperfect progressive
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has been commentatingperfect progressive
Past
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commentatedsimple
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had commentatedperfect
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was commentatingprogressive
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were commentatingprogressive
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had been commentatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of commentate
First recorded in 1785–95; back formation from commentator
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:
When us reporters asked the prime minister's team afterwards why they had done it, they stuck rigidly to their strategy: don't commentate.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2025
But commentators gotta commentate, and the time off in the woods has not mellowed Carlson.
From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
“There’s no one single solution to the problem,” said Swangard, the sports marketing expert who during the world championships will commentate for NBC Sports.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2022
It has also postponed an event he was due to commentate at, in his honour.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2022
Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
She’s the “famed” announcer who commentates on the everyday life things.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2023
I’m a 26-year-old blind individual who color commentates baseball games,’ ” Iacovone said.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 26, 2019
The Swansea-born spin bowler retired from first class cricket this year at the age of 42 and now commentates on the game.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2012
Former McLaren driver Martin Brundle, who commentates for Britain's Sky Sports television, and Jordan both said at the weekend they believed announcements were imminent.
From Reuters ● Sep. 25, 2012
“I hope Luna always commentates from now on...Loser’s Lurgy...”
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
I commentated on Mingueza playing for Spain at the Nations League finals a year ago and he is very impressive at turning defence into attack.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Rugby league great Ray French, who commentated on the sport for the BBC over four decades, has died at the age of 85.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025
Macpherson, now 90, commentated on Scottish football for over four decades, including many of Law's matches.
From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2025
He commentated on every Summer and Winter Olympic Games between 1992 and 2014.
From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2024
Such corrections could be most properly introduced in the notes of a fuller commentated edition: less so, it may seem, in an almost unannotated text.
From Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges by George Saintsbury
His tenure will end at the end of the Games, and he will not be commentating on the closing ceremony.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, commentating on TNT, said it was "completely brainless".
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2026
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman was commentating on the game for BBC Radio Five Live and suggested Amorim was right to bide his time before putting Lammens in the team.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2025
"It was the largest city in western Europe, with a population of over half a million, and it had an ebullient print media that was constantly commentating on the fashions and follies of the age."
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2025
“He is really struggling here. We have never seen him choke this badly in all of our commentating from his head!”
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
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.
