commentate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deliver a commentary on.
to commentate a fashion show.
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to write a commentary on; annotate.
to commentate the Book of Job.
verb (used without object)
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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
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.
John Murray: The player I'm looking forward to watching is Yamal as I am yet to commentate on him in a Barcelona shirt.
From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025
But commentators gotta commentate, and the time off in the woods has not mellowed Carlson.
From New York Times • Jun. 7, 2023
But two year later, he embraced that most modern of political tools and signed up to Twitter to commentate on the 2017 election.
From BBC • Nov. 9, 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
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.
