publish

American  

[puhb-lish] / ˈpʌb lɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to issue (printed or otherwise reproduced textual or graphic material, computer software, etc.) for sale or distribution to the public.

2. to issue publicly the work of.

   Random House publishes Faulkner.

3. to submit (content) online, as to a message board or blog.

   I published a comment on her blog post with examples from my own life.

   They publish a new webcomic once a month.

4. to announce formally or officially; proclaim; promulgate.

   Synonyms:

   declare, reveal, disclose

   Antonyms:

   conceal

5. to make publicly or generally known.

6. Law. to communicate (a defamatory statement) to some person or persons other than the person defamed.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to issue newspapers, books, computer software, etc.; engage in publishing.

   The new house will start to publish next month.

2. to have one's work published.

   She has decided to publish with another house.

publish British  

/ ˈpʌblɪʃ /

verb

1. to produce and issue (printed or electronic matter) for distribution and sale

2. (intr) to have one's written work issued for publication

3. (tr) to announce formally or in public

4. (tr) to communicate (defamatory matter) to someone other than the person defamed

   to publish a libel

---

Related Words

See announce.

Other Word Forms

• mispublished adjective
• nonpublishable adjective
• publishable adjective
• publishing noun
• unpublishable adjective
• unpublished adjective
• well-published adjective

Etymology

Origin of publish

1300–50; Middle English publisshen < Anglo-French *publiss-, long stem of *publir, for Middle French publier < Latin pūblicāre to make public

Explanation

Anyone can write something just for themselves. If you publish your writing, it's available to others. For a writer, to publish is about the best thing there is. Like a lot of words, publish is used in a few ways. When a writer publishes six articles, six pieces of his or her writing have been accepted for publication in books or magazines. When a company publishes an article or book, it actually prints it up and sells it to the public. If you write a blog, you can also say that you publish your writing. Or, a teacher can publish a magazine of student writing just for her class.

Example Sentences

A Defense Department spokesman said the department took the list down because it may require updates, and would publish a new list after making changes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The University of Michigan will also publish its Consumer Sentiment index for April.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

He will soon publish an entire book about his conversion to Catholicism.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

By the time traditional news outlets publish a story, much of the underlying reality is already visible to anyone paying attention.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Wall Street firms—most notably Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers—continued to publish bond market research reaffirming the strength of the market.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• announce
• broadcast
• circulate
• declare
• disclose
• distribute
• print
• produce
• promulgate
• publicize
• put out
• report