Writing is something that has been written or printed.
'It's from a notebook,' the sheriff said, 'And there's writing on it.' [+ on]
If you have a complaint about your holiday, please inform us in writing.
2. uncountable noun
You can refer to any piece of written work as writing, especially when you are considering the style of language used in it.
The writing is brutally tough and savagely humorous.
It was such a brilliant piece of writing.
3. uncountable noun
Writing is the activity of writing, especially of writing books for money.
She had begun to be a little bored with novel writing.
...activities to help prepare children for writing.
4. uncountable noun [usually poss NOUN]
Your writing is the way that you write with a pen or pencil, which can usually be recognized as belonging to you.
It was a little difficult to read your writing.
I think it's due to being left handed that he's got terrible writing.
Synonyms: script, hand, print, printing More Synonyms of writing
5. plural noun [usually with poss]
An author's writings are all the things that he or she has written, especially on a particular subject.
Althusser's writings are focused mainly on France.
The pieces he is reading are adapted from the writings of Michael Frayn. [+ of]
Synonyms: document, work, book, letter More Synonyms of writing
6.
See the writing is on the wall
writing in British English
(ˈraɪtɪŋ)
noun
1.
a group of letters or symbols written or marked on a surface as a means of communicating ideas by making each symbol stand for an idea, concept, or thing, by using each symbol to represent a set of sounds grouped into syllables (syllabic writing), or by regarding each symbol as corresponding roughly or exactly to each of the sounds in the language (alphabetic writing)
See also ideogram
2. short for handwriting
3.
anything expressed in letters, esp a literary composition
4.
the work of a writer
5.
literary style, art, or practice
6.
written form
give it to me in writing
7. (modifier)
related to or used in writing
writing ink
8. writing on the wall
Word origin
sense 8: allusion to Daniel 5:5
writing in American English
(ˈraɪtɪŋ)
noun
1.
the act of a person who writes
2.
something written, as a letter or document
3.
written form
4.
handwriting
5.
a book, poem, article, or other literary work
usually used in pl.
6.
the profession or work of a writer
7.
the art, style, etc. of literary composition
adjective
8.
that writes
9.
used in writing
More idioms containing
writing
the writing is on the wall
Examples of 'writing' in a sentence
writing
He was loved by all his colleagues for his modesty and manifest in his straightforward writing style.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Except that Leicester were not reading the writing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Writing can help if you're going through a tough time.
The Sun (2016)
Reading makes minds sharper and writing helps you stay mentally active, experts say.
The Sun (2017)
When his blend of comedy and drama works, his writing is in a league of its own.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Early writings about it claim that its blossoms emitted an aroma reminiscent of the stench of "a thousand dead elephants rotting in the sun.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
So why is it that good writing about food is so rare?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The characters are likeable and the writing is always brilliant.
The Sun (2013)
Use the present tense in referring to the contents of writing or art.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
Writing will also help you to look at how your own behaviour has contributed to the rift.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His writing career took a while to get going.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This probably accounts for the somewhat distant and pedestrian tone of the early writings on work.
Rowbotham, Sheila The Past is Before Us - feminism in action since the 1960s (1989)
His voluminous writings on the subject for a time enjoyed huge popularity.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
The menace was reserved for the writing on the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Reading your writing aloud will also help you to identify any weak spots.
The Sun (2013)
Writing and oral reading effects have been positive as well.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
Some beautiful writing about a difficult period in time makes for a great read.
The Sun (2014)
For him it was just about writing and producing stuff from home.
The Sun (2008)
Writing lists may help you remember things better.
The Sun (2013)
His writing career blossomed in parallel to his acting.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He still works full time writing and broadcasting and has no plans to retire.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Critical writing about the subject was also rare.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She saw the writing on the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And my reading and writing was delayed because of my profound deafness.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In many cases the actual quantity of apple appears but only in tiny writing on the side of the carton.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My writing style is pretty unique.
The Sun (2010)
It was founded in 1841 as a vehicle for humorous writing as much as for drawings.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It stayed with me and made me think - a sign of brilliant writing.
The Sun (2006)
You can unleash your creative nature with music, art and writing apps.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That said, it is amusing at times and the chatty writing style will appeal to many.
The Sun (2010)
Quotations
Writing, at its best, is a lonely lifeErnest Hemingwayspeech, accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature
I think writing does come out of a deep well of loneliness and a desire to fill some kind of gapJay McInerney
Would you not like to try all sorts of lives - one is so very small - but that is the satisfaction of writing - one can impersonate so many peopleKatherine Mansfieldletter
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasureSamuel JohnsonJohnsonian Miscellanies
Many suffer from the incurable disease of writing, and it becomes chronic in their sick mindsJuvenalSatires
All writing is garbageAntonin ArtaudSelected Writings
In other languages
writing
British English: writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ NOUN
Writing is something that has been written or printed.
I tried to read the writing on the opposite page.
American English: writing
Arabic: كِتَابَة
Brazilian Portuguese: escrita
Chinese: 作品
Croatian: tekst
Czech: písmo
Danish: skrift
Dutch: schrijven
European Spanish: escrito
Finnish: kirjoitus
French: écriture écrits
German: Schrift
Greek: γραφή
Italian: scrittura
Japanese: 書いたもの
Korean: 저작
Norwegian: skriving
Polish: pisanie
European Portuguese: escrita
Romanian: lucrare
Russian: писание
Latin American Spanish: escritura
Swedish: skrift
Thai: งานเขียน
Turkish: yazı
Ukrainian: напис
Vietnamese: bài viết
All related terms of 'writing'
handwrite
to write by hand rather than by typing or printing
stick down
to write
write
When you write something on a surface, you use something such as a pen or pencil to produce words, letters, or numbers on the surface.
cowrite
to write (something) in collaboration with another writer
miswrite
to write wrongly or in error
outwrite
to be better at writing than
skywrite
to write a message in the sky with smoke trails from an aircraft
writing pad
a book containing pieces of paper for you to write on
hack writing
undistinguished literary work produced to order
part-writing
the aspect of composition concerned with the writing of parts, esp counterpoint
writing case
a portable folder with compartments for holding writing materials
writing desk
A writing desk is a piece of furniture with drawers, an area for keeping writing materials, and a surface on which you can rest your paper while writing.
writing paper
Writing paper is paper for writing letters on. It is usually of good , smooth quality .
writing room
a room in a building where people go to be quiet and write
writing table
a table designed or used for writing at
guided writing
In language teaching, when students do guided writing activities , they are given an outline in words or pictures to help them write .
mirror writing
backward writing that forms a mirror image of normal writing
picture writing
any writing system that uses pictographs
automatic writing
writing performed without apparent intent or conscious control, esp. to achieve spontaneity or uncensored expression
creative writing
writing which is imaginative and inspiring , esp fiction
write in
If you write in to an organization , you send them a letter.
write up
If you write up something that has been done or said , you record it on paper in a neat and complete form, usually using notes that you have made.
write off
If you write off to a company or organization , you send them a letter , usually asking for something.
write out
When you write out something fairly long such as a report or a list , you write it on paper .
creative writing course
a course in which people are taught creative writing skills
writing on the wall
a sign or signs of approaching disaster
ghost-write
If a book or other piece of writing is ghost-written , it is written by a writer for another person, for example a politician or sportsman , who then publishes it as his or her own work.
write back
If you write back to someone who has sent you a letter , you write them a letter in reply .
write cover
If an insurance company writes cover , it underwrites a risk or insures someone.
write down
When you write something down , you record it on a piece of paper using a pen or pencil .
write into
If a rule or detail is written into a contract , law, or agreement , it is included in it when the contract, law, or agreement is made.
the writing is on the wall
If you say that the writing is on the wall , you mean that there are clear signs that a situation is going to become very difficult or unpleasant .
commit to paper
to write down; record
pad
A pad is a fairly thick, flat piece of a material such as cloth or rubber. Pads are used, for example, to clean things, to protect things, or to change their shape.
stamp pad
a thick piece of soft material used to make something comfortable , give it shape, or protect it
▶ to write away for sth ( information ) 发(發)信索要某物 fā xìn suǒyào mǒuwù ; ( goods ) 函购(購)某物 hángòu mǒuwù
write down
记(記)下 jìxià
write into
▶ to write sth into sth ( contract, agreement ) 把某事写(寫)入某物 bǎ mǒushì xiěrù mǒuwù
1 (noun)
Definition
It's a little difficult to read your writing.
Synonyms
script
She wrote the letter in an elegant script.
hand
written in the composer's own hand
print
printing
fist (informal)
scribble
handwriting
The address was in Anna's handwriting.
scrawl
calligraphy
longhand
penmanship (formal)
chirography
2 (noun)
Definition
the work of a writer
Althusser's writings are focused mainly on France.
Synonyms
document
work
In my opinion, this is Rembrandt's greatest work.
book
a book about witches
letter
title
a publisher with 50 new titles a year
opus
She couldn't find a publisher for her latest opus.
publication
expensively produced glossy publications
literature
composition
Bach's compositions are undoubtedly among the greatest ever written.
belle-lettre
idiom
See writing on the wall
related words
related maniasgraphomaniascribomania
related phobiagraphophobia
subject word lists
See Types of writingSee Types of writer
Quotations
Writing, at its best, is a lonely life [Ernest Hemingway – speech, accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature]I think writing does come out of a deep well of loneliness and a desire to fill some kind of gap [Jay McInerney]Would you not like to try all sorts of lives - one is so very small - but that is the satisfaction of writing - one can impersonate so many people [Katherine Mansfield – letter]What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure [Samuel Johnson – Johnsonian Miscellanies]Many suffer from the incurable disease of writing, and it becomes chronic in their sick minds [Juvenal – Satires]All writing is garbage [Antonin Artaud – Selected Writings]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of book
Definition
a written work or composition, such as a novel
a book about witches
Synonyms
work,
title,
guide,
volume,
publication,
companion,
manual,
paperback,
textbook,
tract,
hardback,
tome,
treatise,
e-book or ebook,
blook
in the sense of composition
Definition
a work of music, art, or literature
Bach's compositions are undoubtedly among the greatest ever written.
Synonyms
creation,
work,
piece,
production,
opus,
masterpiece,
chef-d'oeuvre
in the sense of hand
Definition
a person's style of writing
written in the composer's own hand
Synonyms
writing,
script,
handwriting,
calligraphy,
longhand,
penmanship,
chirography
Synonyms of 'writing'
writing
Explore 'writing' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of handwriting
Definition
a person's characteristic writing style
The address was in Anna's handwriting.
Synonyms
writing,
hand,
script,
fist,
scrawl,
calligraphy,
longhand,
penmanship (formal),
chirography
in the sense of opus
Definition
an artistic creation, esp. a musical work by a particular composer, numbered in order of publication
She couldn't find a publisher for her latest opus.