- 1 [intransitive, transitive] to make letters or numbers on a surface, especially using a pen or a pencil In some countries children don't start learning to read and write until they are six. write in/on/with something Please write in pen on both sides of the paper. I haven't got anything to write with. write something Write your name at the top of the paper. The teacher wrote the answers on the board. The ‘b’ had been wrongly written as a ‘d’. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbclearly, neatly, busily, … verb + writelearn to, teach somebody to, be able to, … prepositionin, on, with, … See full entry book/music/program
- 2 [transitive, intransitive] to produce something in written form so that people can read, perform or use it, etc. write something to write a novel/a song/an essay/a computer program, etc. Who was ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ written by? Which opera did Verdi write first? write something about/on something He hopes to write a book about his experiences one day. She had to write a report on the project. write (about something) I wanted to travel and then write about it. He writes for the ‘New Yorker’ (= works as a writer). No decision has been made at the time of writing. write somebody something She wrote him several poems. Wordfinderwriteauthor, book, classic, critic, drama, fiction, genre, literature, poetry, write Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbeautifully, eloquently, well, … verb + writecommission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, … prepositionabout, for, from, … See full entry See related entries: Writing and publishing a letter
- 3 [intransitive, transitive] to put information, a message of good wishes, etc. in a letter and send it to somebody Bye! Don't forget to write. Can you write and confirm your booking? I'm writing to enquire about language courses. write to somebody She wrote to him in France. write something (to somebody) I wrote a letter to the Publicity Department. write somebody something I wrote the Publicity Department a letter. write that… She wrote that they were all fine. write somebody (North American English) Write me while you're away. write somebody that… (North American English) He wrote me that he would be arriving Monday. write doing something They wrote thanking us for the present. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbeautifully, eloquently, well, … verb + writecommission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, … prepositionabout, for, from, … See full entry state in writing
- 4 [transitive, intransitive] to state the information or the words mentioned write that… In his latest book he writes that the theory has since been disproved. write of something Ancient historians wrote of a lost continent beneath the ocean. + speech ‘Of all my books,’ wrote Dickens, ‘I like this the best.’ Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbeautifully, eloquently, well, … verb + writecommission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, … prepositionabout, for, from, … See full entry cheque/form
- 5 [transitive] to put information in the appropriate places on a cheque or other form write something (out) to write out a cheque write somebody (out) something I'll write you a receipt. The doctor wrote her a prescription for more antibiotics. computing
- 6[transitive, intransitive] write (something) to/onto something to record data in the memory of a computer An error was reported when he tried to write data to the file for the first time. of pen/pencil
- 7[intransitive] to work correctly or in the way mentioned This pen won't write. More Like This Silent letters gnarled, gnash, gnat, gnaw, gnome haute cuisine, heir, (NAmE herb), honour, hors d’oeuvre, hour knack, knee, kneel, knife, knight, knit, knob, knock, knot, know, knuckle psalm, psephology, psychic, ptarmigan, pterodactyl, psychology wrangle, wrap, wreath, wreck, wrench, wrestle, wriggle, wring, write, wrong bomb, climb, crumb, doubt, lamb, limb ascent, fascinate, muscle, scene, scissors height, right, sleigh, weight align, campaign, design, foreign, malign, reign, unfeigned balmy, calm, calf, half, yolk autumn, column, condemn, damn, hymn, solemn bristle, fasten, listen, mortgage, soften, thistle, wrestle biscuit, build, circuit, disguise, guilty, league, rogue, vague yacht answer, sword, twoSee worksheet. Word OriginOld English wrītan ‘score, form (letters) by carving, write’, of Germanic origin; related to German reissen ‘sketch, drag’. More Like This Verbs with two objects bet, bring, build, buy, cost, get, give, leave, lend, make, offer, owe, pass, pay, play, post, promise, read, refuse, sell, send, show, sing, take, teach, tell, throw, wish, writeSee worksheet. Extra examplesAfter ‘Tom Sawyer’, Twain went on to write several other classic books. Children must learn to write neatly. Doris writes with verve and wit. He decided to write off for the brochure. He had an extra clause written into his contract. He has been commissioned to write a history of the town. He has written extensively on the subject. He set out to write a short book on taxation. He still writes to me regularly. He writes on political issues. He wrote a list on the back of an old envelope. He wrote in his journal. He wrote to the editor of the newspaper. Her novel was written under the pseudonym Currer Bell. I write with an old fashioned pen. I’d better write this down, otherwise I’ll forget it. She was busily writing in a notebook. She was busily writing in an exercise book. She was inspired to write the poem by a visit to the cathedral. She writes for ‘The New York Times’. She wrote back to him the next day. She wrote in Arabic. She wrote of her life in Africa. The role was written specifically for Rita Hayworth. The words were written in black ink. a journalist who writes about problems in the developing world an art critic who writes regularly in the French daily ‘Le Figaro’ history written from the perspective of the losers the ability to write clearly in plain English Anicent historians wrote of a lost continent beneath the ocean. He writes for ‘The New Yorker’. I haven’t got anything to write with. I’ll write you a receipt. In his latest book he writes that the theory has since been disproved. In some countries children don’t start learning to read and write until they are six. No decision had been made at the time of writing. Please write clearly in black ink. Someone had written a slogan on the wall. Students will be expected to write their own computer programs. The ‘b’ had been wrongly written as a ‘d’. We teach children to write when they are about six. Who was ‘Robinson Crusoe’ written by? Write your answer out again on a new sheet of paper. Write your name at the top of the page.Idioms
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BrE BrE//raɪt//; NAmE NAmE//raɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they write BrE BrE//raɪt//; NAmE NAmE//raɪt//
he / she / it writes BrE BrE//raɪts//; NAmE NAmE//raɪts//
past simple wrote BrE BrE//rəʊt//; NAmE NAmE//roʊt//
past participle written BrE BrE//ˈrɪtn//; NAmE NAmE//ˈrɪtn//
-ing form writing BrE BrE//ˈraɪtɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈraɪtɪŋ//
Writing and publishing(of a feeling) to be very obvious to other people from the expression on somebody’s face Guilt was written all over his face.
(informal) to show clearly the quality mentioned or the influence of the person mentioned It was a performance with star quality written all over it. This essay has got Mike written all over it.
(informal) not especially good; ordinary The team’s performance was nothing to write home about.
(of an agreement or official document) having no value, especially legally, or because one of the people involved has no intention of doing what they said they would
(North American English, informal) used when you are stating that there is nothing more that can be said about something or that something is completely finished We were doing well but we ran out of money and that’s all she wrote. Phrasal Verbswrite awaywrite backwrite downwrite inwrite intowrite offwrite outwrite up
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