text
Americannoun
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texts
plural
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the main body of matter in a manuscript, book, newspaper, etc., as distinguished from notes, appendixes, headings, illustrations, etc.
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the original words of an author or speaker, as opposed to a translation, paraphrase, commentary, or the like.
The newspaper published the whole text of the speech.
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the actual wording of anything written or printed.
You have not kept to the text of my remarks.
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any of the various forms in which a writing exists.
The text is a medieval transcription.
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the wording adopted by an editor as representing the original words of an author.
the authoritative text of Catullus.
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any theme or topic; subject.
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the words of a song or the like.
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a textbook.
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a short passage of Scripture, especially one chosen in proof of a doctrine or as the subject of a sermon.
The text he chose was the Sermon on the Mount.
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the letter of the Holy Scripture, or the Scriptures themselves.
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Printing.
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type, as distinguished from illustrations, margins, etc.
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Linguistics. a unit of connected speech or writing, especially composed of more than one sentence, that forms a cohesive whole.
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anything considered to be a subject for analysis by or as if by methods of literary criticism.
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Digital Technology. a text message.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to send a text message about or containing.
He texted congratulations to his niece on her new job.
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to send a text message to.
The only way I can ever reach her is to text her.
noun
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the main body of a printed or written work as distinct from commentary, notes, illustrations, etc
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the words of something printed or written
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(often plural) a book prescribed as part of a course of study
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computing the words printed, written, or displayed on a visual display unit
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the original exact wording of a work, esp the Bible, as distinct from a revision or translation
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a short passage of the Bible used as a starting point for a sermon or adduced as proof of a doctrine
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the topic or subject of a discussion or work
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printing any one of several styles of letters or types
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short for textbook
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short for text message
verb
Usage
What is a basic definition of text? Text is the exact, original words written by an author. Text is also a specific work as written by the original author. Text is also commonly used to refer to a text message or to send a text message. Text has several other senses as a noun. Text refers to the actual words written in a book, newspaper, blog post, or any other written work. Pictures, charts, and other images are not text. When you read something, you are looking at text and using your language skills to get meaning out of it. Something that doesn’t contain any text is textless. Real-life examples: Books, newspapers, and magazines all contain a lot of text. Even picture books or art books might have text to describe the images. Used in a sentence: The news editor broke up the large amount of text by putting charts and photographs between paragraphs. Related to this sense, text refers to specific written works as they were created by the original author. For example, if your teacher asks you to consult the text of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven,” they want you to read the exact words of the poem that Poe wrote rather than a synopsis or a translation by a different writer. Used in a sentence: I think most people would find the Lord of the Rings movies more exciting than the original text. Text also refers to a text message, an electronic message sent by mobile devices and some computer apps. Real-life examples: If you own a smartphone, you probably send and receive texts almost every day. Your friends, family, and cellphone company are all likely to send you texts. Used in a sentence: My sister sent me a text about the $10 I owe her. Text also means to send a text message. Used in a sentence: She spends a lot of time texting her friends.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of text
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Medieval Latin textus “text, terms,” Latin: “text, structure,” originally, “pattern of weaving, texture (of cloth),” equivalent to tex(ere) “to weave” + -tus suffix of verbal action
Explanation
The text, or wording, of a book or article is made up of the original words that the author wrote. In English papers, you have to quote from the text, or actual words in the book you're writing about. You might hear people talk about text in contrast to pictures. For example, a book's text and its pictures should get at the same ideas but in different ways. You translate, summarize or paraphrase a text, but there's only one original.
Vocabulary lists containing text
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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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:
In mid-October, David Beasley, the former Republican South Carolina governor, got a text from Jim Hodges, the Democrat who defeated him in 1998.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
That positioned Nvidia perfectly for the A.I. wave, as major steps forward in visual autogenerations and rapid-pace text outputs were enabled by the very chips that could keep intensive video games running without overheating.
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026
"We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist," text accompanying the photos said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
Well, this is a great transition because the whole reason we’re doing this interview is because you periodically text me photos of amazing archival fashion pieces you see.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026
I text Mom to come pick me up, and after she hugs me and tells me she’s proud of me for stopping right away, she says she knows someone who might be able to help.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Two years after I recovered, I started to report a book about the whole mess, and my friends shared their texts and emails.
From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2026
The younger man torments her with texts but hardly ever sees her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
When she did not return for a few hours and did not answer calls or texts from him and multiple other family members, Wormald and her father went looking for her.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
The company is also exploring new means of delivery and ordering, including through drones and texts to chatbots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
He texts her back, and we hurry into the magic that is Graeter’s Ice Cream.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
