commentate
Americanverb (used with object)
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commentates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
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)
-
commentated,
past participle, past
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commentating
present participle
-
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.
verb
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(intr) to serve as a commentator
-
(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
-
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
Hard to believe he will not be commentating on another Welsh rugby season which starts this weekend in which Shanklin was due to commentate alongside Butler.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2022
“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
Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Ms Allen-Wyatt, who also played for Liverpool and Aston Villa and now commentates for another one of her former clubs, Manchester City, launched the Tash Harding Academy in August 2023.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2024
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
Adam Buxton commentates, presumably with tongue firmly in cheek.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 12, 2011
“I hope Luna always commentates from now on...Loser’s Lurgy...”
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
"Given how he played, it was no surprise that Fergus' contributions were always insightful and bang on the money," said Neilly, who commentated on Slattery's first game as Ireland captain against France in January 1979.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Ray French: Legendary broadcaster commentated on every Challenge Cup final for BBC TV from 1982 to 2008 and worked for the corporation for more than four decades.
From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025
"How many games have I commentated on? I haven't got a clue," he admits.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2025
"Who punched Tom Williams in the mouth, Tom Williams?" said former Bath and England fly-half Stuart Barnes as he commentated on Sky Sports.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
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
"There are going to be others," said 1996 world champion Damon Hill, commentating for BBC Radio 5 live.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
His involvement with the NFL expanded off the green as he explored TV commentating, even earning Sports Emmy nominations for outstanding sports personality in 1994 and 1996.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
American actor Mac, 48, described commentating on Wrexham's game against Swansea as the "most rewarding professional experience of my entire life".
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
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
“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
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