publish

verb

pub·​lish ˈpə-blish How to pronounce publish (audio)
published; publishing; publishes

transitive verb

1
a
: to make generally known
b
: to make public announcement of
2
a
: to disseminate to the public
b
: to produce or release for distribution
specifically : print sense 2c
c
: to issue the work of (an author)

intransitive verb

1
: to put out an edition
2
: to have one's work accepted for publication
publishable adjective

Examples of publish in a Sentence

It's a small company that only publishes about four books a year. The university press publishes academic titles. The newspaper is published daily. There is a lot of pressure for professors to publish regularly. He has not published anything for a long time. The magazine published two of my stories.
Recent Examples on the Web Ireland’s constitution, published in 1937, was strongly influenced by Catholic social teachings, according to legal scholars. Lauren Kent, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 This story was originally published March 7, 2024, 9:24 PM. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Researchers visited dozens of sites on Okinawa island as part of a wildlife survey, according to a study published March 1 in the journal Current Herpetology. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 This story was originally published March 8, 2024, 11:12 AM. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 Our newspaper used to publish mugshots of people who had been arrested, and a lady was wearing that very same unique necklace in her arrest photo. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 That’s because the rule is much weaker than its original version, which was first published in March 2022. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 This story was originally published March 8, 2024, 10:55 AM. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 The late, great Bob Marley is surging on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Feb. 23, following the release in U.K. cinemas of the biopic Bob Marley: One Love. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'publish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French publier, from Latin publicare, from publicus public

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of publish was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near publish

Cite this Entry

“Publish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/publish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

publish

verb
pub·​lish ˈpəb-lish How to pronounce publish (audio)
1
: to make generally known : make public announcement of
2
a
: to produce or release for publication
especially : print entry 2 sense 2c
b
: to print the work of
publish a poet
publishable adjective

Legal Definition

publish

transitive verb
pub·​lish
1
: to make known to another or to the public generally

Note: For purposes of defamation, a defamatory communication made to only one third party may be considered published.

2
a
: to proclaim officially
publish an enactment
b
: to declare (a will) to be a true and valid expression of one's last will
c
: to reproduce (an opinion) in a reporter
3
a
: to disseminate to the public or provide notice of to the public or to an individual (as through a mass medium)
ordered to publish the citation in the legal notices for three weeks
see also notice by publication at notice
b
: to distribute or offer for distribution to the public copies of (a copyrightable work) by some transfer of ownership, rental, lease, or loan
4
: utter
publisher noun

More from Merriam-Webster on publish

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