write

verb

ˈrīt 

wrote ˈrōt  ; written ˈri-tᵊn  also writ ˈrit  or dialectal wrote; writing ˈrī-tiŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to form (characters, symbols, etc.) on a surface with an instrument (such as a pen)

b

: to form (words) by inscribing characters or symbols on a surface

write one's name

c

: to spell in writing

words written alike but pronounced differently

d

: to cover, fill, or fill in by writing

wrote ten pages

write a check

2

: to set down in writing: such as

a

: draw up, draft

write a will

b(1)

: to be the author of : compose

writes poems and essays

(2)

: to compose in musical form

write a string quartet

c

: to express in literary form

if I could write the beauty of your eyes

—William Shakespeare

d

: to communicate by letter

writes that they are coming

e

: to use or exhibit (a specific script, language, or literary form or style) in writing

write braille

writes French with ease

f

: to write contracts or orders for

especially : underwrite

write life insurance

3

: to make a permanent impression of

4

: to communicate with in writing

we'll write you when we get there

5

: ordain, fate

so be it, it is written

—D. C. Peattie

6

: to make evident or obvious

guilt written on his face

7

: to force, effect, introduce, or remove by writing

write oneself into fame and fortune

—Charles Lee

8

: to take part in or bring about (something worth recording)

9

a

: to introduce (information) into the storage device or medium of a computer

b

: to transfer (information) from the main memory of a computer to a storage or output device

10

: sell

write a stock option

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make significant characters or inscriptions

also : to permit or be adapted to writing

b

: to form or produce written letters, words, or sentences

2

: to compose, communicate by, or send a letter

3

a

: to produce a written work

b

: to compose music

Phrases

write one's own ticket

: to select a course of action or position entirely according to one's wishes

writ large

: on a larger scale or in a more prominent manner

the problems of modern totalitarianism are only our own problems writ large

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

writ small

: on a smaller scale

Synonyms

• author
• pen
• scratch (out)
• scribble

Examples of write in a Sentence

children learning to read and write

I don't have anything to write with. Could I borrow a pen?

Please write your name at the top of each sheet.

Write the number as a decimal instead of as a fraction.

She wrote “tag sale” on the sign in big letters.

The note was written in blue ink.

I mistakenly wrote her name as “Gene” instead of “Jean.”

She wrote hundreds of poems during her lifetime.

She wrote an essay comparing two poems.

I'm writing an article for the school newspaper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yorke wrote the soundtrack, which will come out digitally this week and physically on July 12. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2024

It’s written by Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells and Levy. —Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024

The thousand-yard-stare narration spoken by the film’s Marlow figure, the assassin Captain Willard (played by Martin Sheen), was written by Vietnam War correspondent Michael Herr, author of Dispatches, published in 1977. —Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024

Bernard wrote a sixpager, Amazon’s internal mechanism for making pitches on business ideas, about creating a new program that straddled corporate development, where deals were done, and its new hit product: the Echo smart speaker. —Dana Mattioli, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

Wilson wrote her book, which was published last year, after her husband of twenty-three years, and the father of their three children, left her during the pandemic. —Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024

Potential nominees include students with achievements in band, orchestra, theater, choir, art, culinary arts, writing contests, sewing skills or other similar vocational-school mediums where students can shine through the arts. —Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024

Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024

The 3rd District Court of Appeal agreed on Tuesday, writing that Weber’s argument did not apply to Fong. —Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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 the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing write

• co-write
• nothing to write home about
• write back
• write down
• write in
• write into
• write off
• write off for (something)
• write one's own ticket
• write out
• write (someone) out of
• write up

Kids Definition

write

verb

ˈrīt 

wrote ˈrōt  ; written ˈrit-ᵊn  also writ ˈrit  ; writing ˈrīt-iŋ 

1

: to form letters or words on a surface with an instrument (as a pen or pencil)

learn to read and write

2

: to form the letters or the words of (as on paper)

write your name

write a check

3

: to spell in writing

words written alike but pronounced differently

4

: to express in writing

write what you felt about the experience

5

a

: to make up and set down for others to read

write a book

b

: to compose music

6

: to write a letter to

write your senator

7

: to communicate by letter

writes that they are coming

8

: to transfer information in a computer to a storage area or output device