edit

¹

[ed-it]

verb (used with object)

1. to supervise or direct the preparation of (a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); serve as editor of; direct the editorial policies of.

2. to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication.

3. to revise or correct, as a manuscript.

4. to expunge; eliminate (often followed byout ).

   The author has edited out all references to his own family.

5. to add (usually followed byin ).

6. to prepare (motion-picture film, video or magnetic tape) by deleting, arranging, and splicing, by synchronizing the sound record with the film, etc.

7. Genetics.,  to alter the arrangement of (genes).

8. Computers.,  to modify or add to (data or text).

noun

1. an instance of or the work of editing.

   automated machinery that allows a rapid edit of incoming news.

edit.

²

abbreviation

1. edited.

2. edition.

3. editor.

edit

/ ˈɛdɪt /

verb

1. to prepare (text) for publication by checking and improving its accuracy, clarity, etc

2. to be in charge of (a publication, esp a periodical)

   he edits the local newspaper

3. to prepare (a film, tape, etc) by rearrangement, selection, or rejection of previously filmed or taped material

4. (tr) to modify (a computer file) by, for example, deleting, inserting, moving, or copying text

5. (often foll by out) to remove (incorrect or unwanted matter), as from a manuscript or film

noun

1. informal,  an act of editing

   give the book a final edit

Other Word Forms

• misedit verb (used with object)
• overedit verb
• reedit verb (used with object)
• unedited adjective
• well-edited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of edit¹

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” ( datum )

Word History and Origins

Origin of edit¹

C18: back formation from _editor

Example Sentences

These little excisions from reality - or "perpetuity edits," a kind of George Orwell speak - see them remove from the world anything they don't like.

Read more on BBC

In the mobile app, you can type your edit requests into a text box.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Flying cars remain at an early developmental stage," said Zhang, who edited a white paper on China's flying car industry.

Read more on Barron's

A spokesperson for The Wiggles told The West Australian newspaper that the band's performances at the awards had been "family-friendly" and that the video had been "edited together separately and without our awareness".

Read more on BBC

The 26-year-old jumped on the trend after being impressed by the imaginative way another content creator had used AI, by editing some of her original photos and adding AI dogs.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adapt 
• alter 
• analyze 
• annotate 
• arrange 
• assemble 
• censor 
• choose 
• compile 
• compose 
• delete 
• prepare 
• publish 
• rearrange 
• revise 
• select