Write — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈrīt/

Meaning & Definition of Write

Write (verb)

  1. to form (characters, symbols, etc.) by or as if by marking on a surface
  2. to form (words) by or as if by marking characters or symbols on a surface
  3. to spell in writing

Write (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to compose and set down on paper the words of

    "a staunch supporter of the old school, he prefers to write all of his letters by hand"

    similar: author, pen, scratch (out), scribble
    related: cast, compose, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare, recast, redraft, revise, rewrite, letter, print, type, typewrite, record, take down, transcribe, autograph, pencil (in), register, sign, couch, express, phrase, put, word

  2. to engage in an exchange of written messages

    "promise you'll write while you're away"

    similar: correspond
    related: communicate, intercommunicate, airmail, e-mail, telegraph, mail, post, answer, reply

Related Entry: Written (verb)

Written is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for written, not for write.

  1. to compose and set down on paper the words of

    "a staunch supporter of the old school, he prefers to write all of his letters by hand"

    similar: authored, penned, scratched (out), scribbled
    related: cast, composed, crafted, drafted, drawn up, formulated, framed, prepared, recast, redrafted, revised, rewritten, lettered, printed, typed, typewritten, recorded, taken down, transcribed, autographed, penciled (in), registered, signed, couched, expressed, phrased, put, worded

  2. to engage in an exchange of written messages

    "promise you'll write while you're away"

    similar: corresponded
    related: communicated, intercommunicated, airmailed, e-mailed, telegraphed, mailed, posted, answered, replied

Related Entry: Write down (verb)

Write down is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write down, not for write.

  1. to diminish the price or value of

    "a company forced to write down its assets"

    similar: attenuate, break, cheapen, depreciate, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, lower, mark down, reduce, sink, write off
    related: debase, demonetize, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue, abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink
    opposite: appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade
    near: bloat, blow up, inflate, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

  2. to make a written note of

    "write down what you remember about that day"

    similar: jot (down), log, mark, note, put down, record, register, report, set down, take down
    related: chronicle, minute, transcribe, enregister, enter, inscribe, chalk (up), notch, score

Related Entry: Write off (verb)

Write off is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write off, not for write.

  1. to express scornfully one's low opinion of

    "most critics have already written off that director as a hack incapable of turning out anything but schlock"

    similar: bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (slang), discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, dump on
    related: discommend, abuse, scold, disapprove (of), dislike, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate, asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify, discredit, disgrace
    opposite: acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, magnify, praise
    near: approve, countenance, endorse, favor, recommend, sanction, commend, compliment, eulogize

  2. to diminish the price or value of

    "that one blunder will write off to nothing all the goodwill we've been building up"

    similar: attenuate, break, cheapen, depreciate, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, lower, mark down, reduce, sink, write down
    related: debase, demonetize, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue, abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink
    opposite: appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade
    near: bloat, blow up, inflate, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

Related Entry: Write-up (noun)

Write-up is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write-up, not for write.

  1. a written description or review of something

    "There's a write-up of the restaurant in the paper."

    similar: ink (slang), testimonial, ballyhoo, hype, publicity, puffery, column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, story, article, composition, dispatch, essay, paper, theme, ad, advertisement, commercial, message, plug, promotion, spot, word, pronouncement, publication, release

Related Entry: Write up (verb)

Write up is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write up, not for write.

  1. as in write, describe

    similar: describe, write, broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish, sound off, speak out, speak up, advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say, chime in, air, expound, express, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice, communicate, convey, put across, put over, offer, submit
    opposite: stifle, suppress, censor, restrain, restrict

Related Entry: Write-in (noun)

Write-in is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write-in, not for write.

  1. as in absentee ballot, secret ballot

    similar: absentee ballot, Australian ballot, secret ballot, short ballot, ticket, referendum, blackball, nay, no, non placet, aye, yea, ballot, vote

Related Entry: Write-ins (noun)

Write-ins is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write-ins, not for write.

  1. as in absentee ballots, secret ballots

    similar: absentee ballots, Australian ballots, secret ballots, short ballots, tickets, referenda, blackballs, nays, noes, non placets, ayes, yeas, ballots, votes

Related Entry: Write-ups (noun)

Write-ups is a different word from Write. The synonyms below are for write-ups, not for write.

  1. a written description or review of something

    "There's a write-up of the restaurant in the paper."

    similar: inks (slang), testimonials, ballyhoos, hypes, publicities, pufferies, columns, commentaries, editorials, features, reports, reviews, stories, articles, compositions, dispatches, essays, papers, themes, ads, advertisements, commercials, messages, plugs, promotions, spots, words, pronouncements, publications, releases

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Write

The most common words with a similar meaning to Write:

author, pen, scratch (out), scribble, correspond

Related Words for Write

cast, compose, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare, recast, redraft, revise, rewrite, letter, print, type, typewrite, record, take down, transcribe, autograph, pencil (in), register, sign, couch, express, phrase, put, word, communicate, intercommunicate

Word Forms of Write

Inflections: wrote, written, writ, writing

Origin & Etymology of Write

Middle English, from Old English wrītan to scratch, draw, inscribe; akin to Old High German rīzan to tear and perhaps to Greek rhinē file, rasp

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Write

Words & Phrases Containing Write

write-down, write down, write-in, write in, write-off, write one's own ticket, write off, write out

Frequently Asked Questions about Write

What does "Write" mean?

"Write" means to form (characters, symbols, etc.) by or as if by marking on a surface. As a verb, it is defined as: to form (characters, symbols, etc.) by or as if by marking on a surface. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Write"?

Other words for "Write" include author, pen, scratch (out), scribble and correspond. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Write" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Write"?

There are 42 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Write". Common alternatives include author, pen, scratch (out), scribble and correspond.

How do you use "Write" in a sentence?

Examples of "Write" in a sentence: "a staunch supporter of the old school, he prefers to write all of his letters by hand"; "promise you'll write while you're away".

Is "Write" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Write" is a verb.

Is "Write" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Write" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Write"?

"Write" is pronounced /ˈrīt/.

What is the origin of the word "Write"?

"Write" comes from Middle English, from Old English wrītan to scratch, draw, inscribe; akin to Old High German rīzan to tear and perhaps to Greek rhinē file, rasp. First known use: before 12th centuryt.