comment
Americannoun
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comments
plural
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a remark, observation, or criticism.
a comment about the weather.
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His frequent absences gave rise to comment.
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a criticism or interpretation, often by implication or suggestion.
The play is a comment on modern society.
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Digital Technology. a user response to published content on the internet, written in a designated “Comments” section, often below the published content.
There were many online comments criticizing the author.
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a note in explanation, expansion, or criticism of a passage in a book, article, or the like; annotation.
- Synonyms:
- commentary, addendum
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explanatory or critical matter added to a text.
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Also called rheme. Linguistics. the part of a sentence that communicates new information about the topic.
verb (used without object)
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comments,
present (3rd person singular)
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commented,
past participle, past
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commenting
present participle
verb (used with object)
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comments,
present (3rd person singular)
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commented,
past participle, past
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commenting
present participle
noun
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a remark, criticism, or observation
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talk or gossip
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a note explaining or criticizing a passage in a text
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explanatory or critical matter added to a text
verb
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to remark or express an opinion
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(intr) to write notes explaining or criticizing a text
Usage
What is a basic definition of comment? A comment is a remark or observation that expresses a person’s observation or criticism. To comment is to make such a remark. A comment is also a reply from a user to published material on the internet. Comment has several other senses as a noun and a verb. When people make comments, they are giving their opinion or perspective on something in the form of an observation or criticism. Comments are usually short statements. The word commentary is used for longer criticism or a group of comments. A person who offers a comment is a commenter.
- Real-life examples: Managers often want (or pretend to want) comments from their staff when looking for feedback about something. When people chat, they often share comments about many topics, such as sports, the weather, or politics. A backseat driver delivers unwanted comments about another person’s driving abilities.
- Used in a sentence: The contractor listened to the owner’s comments about what the new house should look like.
- Used in a sentence: The company didn’t want to comment on the scandal.
- Real-life examples: News websites and YouTube videos allow users to post comments. Most websites will ban or suspend users who post especially profane or offensive comments.
- Used in a sentence: The video resulted in a lot of supportive comments from fans.
Synonym Usage
See remark.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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commentsimple
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commentssimple
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have commentedperfect
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has commentedperfect
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am commentingprogressive
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are commentingprogressive
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is commentingprogressive
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have been commentingperfect progressive
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has been commentingperfect progressive
Past
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commentedsimple
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had commentedperfect
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was commentingprogressive
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were commentingprogressive
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had been commentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of comment
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English com(m)ent “explanatory note, comment,” from Old French comment “commentary,” from Late Latin commentum “interpretation, comment,” from Latin: “device, fabrication, falsehood,” noun use of neuter of commentus “contrived,” past participle of comminīscī “to contrive, devise”; cf. com- ( def. ), mental 1 ( def. )
Explanation
To comment is to state your opinion or make a remark on something. Of course, it's good to know when to hold your tongue. Comment on the latest movie? No problem. Comment on the annoying airport security measures while having your baggage checked? Better not. A written explanation or criticism is a comment. Your teacher's comments on your paper may thrill you when you do excellent work or unnerve you when you receive the message, "See me!" If you state your opinion, this is also a comment. Politicians talking to the press are fond of the statement, "No comment," which means they don't want to express an opinion — or more likely, they don't want to get in trouble.
Vocabulary lists containing comment
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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"Made You Laugh"
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The Titan's Curse
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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:
Both Arbogast and the university declined to comment on the situation when reached by The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Confront your haters: Speaking of human relationships in the digital age, staff writer Luke Winkie recently went on a deep dive into Slate’s storied comment section.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026
Paramount didn’t respond to a request for comment.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
A Pentagon official said the department doesn’t comment on speculation about potential transactions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Your older sister’s throwaway comment sliced right to your center.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Two-year yields fell after dovish comments from influential Fed policymaker John Williams—paired with lower oil prices—prompted markets to temper expectations for a rate hike in October.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Sanchez echoed Macron's comments, saying if the UK asks to rejoin "then of course Spain would applaud it and open its arms again to a brotherly people".
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
Burnham's comments come after it emerged that one of the five men had dialled 999 himself before the group were arrested.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
The comments by Britain’s leader back up earlier assertions by U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
I’m trying super hard to focus on the good things, not Skye and Madi’s snide comments.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
North Korean state media hasn’t commented on the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
North Korean state media hasn’t commented on the POWs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Longtime basketball analyst and Duke graduate Seth Davis also commented on Spatola’s friendship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Ed Sheeran has not yet commented, and who will replace Macklemore for the rest of the tour is unknown.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
One time when I slept over at Twig’s place, her mom commented that Twig should try to branch out and find more friends than just me.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
A Salvadoran woman who had lived in the U.S. since the 1980s held a summons for an immigration hearing while commenting that Navarette looked better than she had in a while.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Even if Warsh avoids commenting, many of his colleagues in attendance will be sharing their views in interviews and the like.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Warsh is also expected to shy away from commenting on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s surprise announcement to at least double buybacks of long-term Treasury bonds to tame the recent run-up in yields.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Rangers and Leeds have both said they will not be commenting.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
We hadn’t walked a dozen paces before she decided to turn her anger on me, commenting about my boots, my bonnet, and finally the size of my ears.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
