annotate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Usage
What does annotate mean? To annotate is to add notes or comments to a text or something similar to provide explanation or criticism about a particular part of it. Such notes or comments are called annotations. Annotation can also refer to the act of annotating. Annotations are often added to scholarly articles or to literary works that are being analyzed. But any text can be annotated. For example, a note that you scribble in the margin of your textbook is an annotation, as is an explanatory comment that you add to a list of tasks at work. Something that has had such notes added to it can be described with the adjective annotated, as in This is the annotated edition of the book. Example: I like to annotate the books I’m reading by writing my thoughts in the margins.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
annotatornoun
-
overannotateverb
-
reannotateverb
-
annotatableadjective
-
annotativeadjective
-
annotatoryadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
annotatesimple
-
annotatessimple
-
have annotatedperfect
-
has annotatedperfect
-
am annotatingprogressive
-
are annotatingprogressive
-
is annotatingprogressive
-
have been annotatingperfect progressive
-
has been annotatingperfect progressive
Past
-
annotatedsimple
-
had annotatedperfect
-
was annotatingprogressive
-
were annotatingprogressive
-
had been annotatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of annotate
First recorded in 1725–35; from Latin annotātus “marked down,” past participle of annotāre “to mark down,” from an- an- 2 + notāre “to mark” ( see note)
Explanation
When you annotate, you write critical explanations to add extra insight about something. These explanations can be necessary to understanding writings in which the language might be difficult to make sense of without clarification. The heart of the word annotate is the word note. The Latin annotātus means "noted down," making the word a breeze to remember. A writer will annotate parts that need extra explanation in technical works or classic writings in which the language or concepts might be difficult to grasp. In fact, some works, like James Joyce’s "Ulysses," have entire separate volumes of annotations, and readers must shift back and forth from the novel to the annotations. Now that's a dedicated reader!
Vocabulary lists containing annotate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Poet X
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
myPerspectives 8.2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
She would annotate each image with an arrow, directing my next move, and send it back.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2025
They must be able — with full certainty — to annotate and explain data they cite and how they reach conclusions.
From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2024
Researchers annotate viruses by matching viral sequences in a sample to previously annotated sequences available in public databases of viral genetic sequences.
From Salon ● May 17, 2024
TikTok has an engineering team focused on developing large language models that can recognize and generate text, and they’re hiring writers and reporters who can annotate and improve the performance of these AI models.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2024
“Oh, I can’t wait to analyze and annotate them,” said Millard, rubbing his hands together.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
Ever the eager pedagogue, as played with buoyant energy by Mr. Morse, Beckett annotates her performance: “Haydn based that movement of the symphony on a folk song. From Croatia.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
When users type a question into its subscription-based tool Assistant, the software pulls an answer from ChatGPT and automatically annotates the text with references to relevant scholarly articles, choosing from millions in its database.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 26, 2023
Rather than speak his lines, he emotionally annotates them, like a therapist with more sensitive ideas than life experience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2023
The AP plans to post the full audio as it annotates a transcript with fact check material.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 4, 2021
Thus, in his "Bible Commentary," Dr. Adam Clarke annotates Paul's admonition to Timothy as below.
From The Great Apostasy Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History by Talmage, James Edward
They occurred in the newly annotated promoter region of TPP1 and boosted production of the protein.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026
Strawberries and white wine were on the menu, and - as has now become customary - one of the empty bottles was annotated and encased in a glass table to commemorate Sinner's latest success.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Among the treasures are George Washington’s annotated draft of the Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and a rare printing of the Declaration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026
Zelensky presented the plan during a two-hour briefing with journalists, reading from a highlighted and annotated version.
From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025
“What’s that?” she tapped at a section that somebody had underlined or annotated.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
The following year, Pulte even produced a slim volume annotating some of his grandfather’s sayings and quotations.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
It recently started annotating videos from more advanced humanoid robots, helping train them to sort and fold a mix of towels and clothes, folding them and placing them in different corners of the table.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2025
"The process of annotating cell types for single cells is often time-consuming, requiring human experts to compare genes across cell clusters," said Wenpin Hou, PhD, assistant professor of Biostatistics at Columbia Mailman School.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 25, 2024
Higher Order Theories suggest consciousness involves a process of representing and annotating basic inputs received from the senses.
From Science Magazine ● Aug. 22, 2023
We have nothing but praise for the editing, annotating, printing, and general production.
From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07 Historical and Political Tracts-Irish by Scott, Temple
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.
