to supervise or direct the preparation of (a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); serve as editor of; direct the editorial policies of.
to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication.
to revise or correct, as a manuscript.
to expunge; eliminate (often followed byout ).
The author has edited out all references to his own family.
to add (usually followed byin ).
to prepare (motion-picture film, video or magnetic tape) by deleting, arranging, and splicing, by synchronizing the sound record with the film, etc.
Genetics. to alter the arrangement of (genes).
Computers. to modify or add to (data or text).
edited.
edition.
editor.
to prepare (text) for publication by checking and improving its accuracy, clarity, etc
to be in charge of (a publication, esp a periodical)
he edits the local newspaper
to prepare (a film, tape, etc) by rearrangement, selection, or rejection of previously filmed or taped material
(tr) to modify (a computer file) by, for example, deleting, inserting, moving, or copying text
(often foll by out) to remove (incorrect or unwanted matter), as from a manuscript or film
First recorded in 1785–95; 1915–20 edit for def. 6; partly back formation from editor, partly from French éditer, verb derivative of Latin ēditus “published, given out,” past participle of ēdere “to give out,” from ē- e- 1 + -dere, combining form of dare “to give” ( cf. datum)
The verb edit means to prepare writing for publication by correcting, revising, or proofreading. If you write for a newspaper, someone very skilled will edit your work before the public sees it. Edit can also mean to cut out. If you edit out all the references to Harry Potter from the famous series, you'll be left with much shorter books. Edit likely comes from the noun editor, meaning the person in charge of a final version of a text. You might also hear edit used when referring to video or film. If you edit a television show, for example, you assemble pieces of video or film footage to create a complete program.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he recently took his in-laws to get fitted for new hearing aids, he popped open his laptop and used a hot spot to send emails and edit video in time to meet a deadline.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026
"We would not let it edit directly because you can't really trust it enough," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026
Part of the image-making process was to edit out what was unhelpful.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Across news departments, they will engage audiences, analyze data, edit, design, photograph, report and record unforgettable voices and scenes that bring every day events to colorful life.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
The crew hurries inside to edit the material, and Plutarch leads Finnick off for a chat, probably to see if he has any more stories.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
