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comment

/ˌkɑˈmɛnt/

/ˈkɒmɛnt/

IPA guide

Other forms: comments; commented; commenting

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.

Definitions of comment
  1. noun
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
    “from time to time she contributed a personal comment on his account”
    synonyms: input, remark
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    types:
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    ad-lib
    remark made spontaneously without prior preparation
    courtesy
    a courteous or respectful or considerate remark
    gambit, ploy
    an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the speaker
    obiter dictum, passing comment
    an incidental remark
    mention, reference
    a remark that calls attention to something or someone
    observation, reflection, reflexion
    a remark expressing careful consideration
    rib
    a teasing remark
    crack, quip, sally, wisecrack
    witty remark
    barb, dig, gibe, jibe, shaft, shot, slam
    an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
    conversation stopper, stopper
    a remark to which there is no polite conversational reply
    banality, bromide, cliche, commonplace, platitude
    a trite or obvious remark
    zinger
    a striking or amusing or caustic remark
    allusion
    passing reference or indirect mention
    retrospection
    reference to things past
    name-dropping
    the practice of casually mentioning important people in order to impress your listener
    cheap shot
    an unnecessarily aggressive and unfair remark directed at a defenseless person
    type of:
    statement
    a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
  2. noun
    a written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material
    “he wrote an extended comment on the proposal”
    synonyms: commentary
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    types:
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    Midrash
    (Judaism) an ancient commentary on part of the Hebrew scriptures that is based on Jewish methods of interpretation and attached to the biblical text
    annotation, notation, note
    a comment or instruction (usually added)
    poste restante
    a notation written on mail that is to be held at the post office until called for (not in the United States or Canada)
    acknowledgment, citation, cite, credit, mention, quotation, reference
    a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
    footer, footnote
    a printed note placed below the text on a printed page
    N.B., NB, nota bene
    a Latin phrase (or its abbreviation) used to indicate that special attention should be paid to something
    PS, postscript
    a note appended to a letter after the signature
    type of:
    statement
    a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
  3. noun
    a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people
    synonyms: gossip, scuttlebutt
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    types:
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    earful
    an outpouring of gossip
    hearsay, rumor, rumour
    gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
    grapevine, pipeline, word of mouth
    gossip spread by spoken communication
    dirt, malicious gossip, scandal
    disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people
    talk, talk of the town
    idle gossip or rumor
    type of:
    account, report
    the act of informing by verbal report
  4. verb
    make or write a comment on
    synonyms: notice, point out, remark
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    criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart
    find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
    wisecrack
    make a comment, usually ironic
    kibbitz, kibitz
    make unwanted and intrusive comments
    censure, criminate, reprimand
    rebuke formally
    blast, crucify, pillory, savage
    criticize harshly or violently
    admonish, reprove
    take to task
    bawl out, berate, call down, call on the carpet, chew out, chew up, chide, dress down, have words, jaw, lambast, lambaste, lecture, rag, rebuke, remonstrate, reprimand, reproof, scathe, scold, take to task, trounce, vituperate
    censure severely or angrily
    reprehend
    express strong disapproval of
    deplore
    express strong disapproval of
    belabor, belabour
    attack verbally with harsh criticism
    come down
    criticize or reprimand harshly
    denounce
    speak out against
    blame, find fault, pick
    harass with constant criticism
    belittle, disparage, pick at
    express a negative opinion of
    nitpick
    be overly critical; criticize minor details
    assail, assault, attack, lash out, round, snipe
    attack in speech or writing
    harsh on
    criticize harshly
    type of:
    mention, note, observe, remark
    make mention of
  5. verb
    explain or interpret something
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    types:
    second-guess
    evaluate or criticize with hindsight
    DJ, disc-jockey, disk-jockey
    comment on music to be played
    type of:
    explain, explicate
    make plain and comprehensible
  6. verb
    provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases
    synonyms: annotate, gloss
    see moresee less
    type of:
    interpret, rede
    give an interpretation or explanation to
Pronunciation
US

/ˌkɑˈmɛnt/

UK

/ˈkɒmɛnt/

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