writewrite /raɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense wrote /roʊt/, past participle written /ˈrɪt˺n/, present participle writing) 1
BOOK/ARTICLE ETC. a)[intransitive, transitive] to produce a new book, story, poem, etc. by putting words together: She spends the mornings writing. How many books has he written?write about We had to write about our summer vacation. → see also written2 b)[intransitive] to be a writer of books, plays, articles, etc., especially as a job: I’d love to write.write on LeBrun often writes on women’s issues.write for He writes for the Washington Post.THESAURUSdraft – to write something that you plan to make changes to later: I drafted an essay and then asked my professor for feedback.compose formal – to write something and choose the words you use carefully: It took him hours to compose the letter to his father.pen formal – to write something. Used in literary writing: Experts claim the poem was penned by Shakespeare.2LETTER [intransitive, transitive] to write a letter or message to someone: Don’t forget to write. Chris hasn’t written me for a long time. I wrote a few emails before lunch.write to I’m going to write to the manager about this.write something to somebody I wrote a letter to my former teacher.write somebody something I wrote all my friends postcards.write (somebody) that Uncle Brian wrote that he’ll come visit on the 26th.write to say/ask/express etc. something They wrote to say they were arriving earlier.3PUT WORDS/NUMBERS ON PAPER a)[intransitive, transitive] to form letters or numbers with a pen or pencil: Write your name here. He could read and write when he was four. b)[intransitive] if a pen or pencil writes, it works correctly: Which one of these pens still writes?THESAURUSprint – to write words without joining the letters together: Print your name at the top of the page.scribble – to write something very quickly and in a messy way: The doctor scribbled a prescription on his pad and handed it to me.scrawl – to write something quickly in a big messy way: The children had scrawled their names across the bottom of the card.type – to write something on a computer: Why don’t you type the letter? It will be easier to read.sign – to write your name at the end of a letter, document, etc.: Sign the contract here and here.write/jot something down – to write something very quickly, especially something short: He jotted down a few notes as we spoke.take/get something down – to write down what someone is saying: The professor spoke so quickly I couldn’t get it all down.make a note (of something) – to write down information that you might need later: Let me make a note of those prices, and I’ll call you back.put something in writing – to make something legal or official by writing it down and usually signing it: Make sure the company puts its promises in writing.fill something out – to write all the information that is needed in the spaces on an official document: I helped Julia fill out the application form.fill something in – to put information in the spaces on an official document or test: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.inscribe formal – to write words on something hard, usually by cutting them into the surface of something such as a stone or coin: His name was inscribed on the plaque.4CHECK/DOCUMENT ETC. [transitive] to write information on a check, form, etc. SYN write out: write somebody something Can I write you a check?5SONG/MUSIC [transitive] to produce a song or piece of music: She’s written songs for several shows.6COMPUTER PROGRAM [transitive] to produce a computer program: Engineers at our company wrote the software.7SPELL [transitive] to spell something or use a specific style or rule when you write it down: Katherine’s name is written with a K.8somebody has something written all over his/her face (also something is written all over somebody’s face) used to say that it is very clear what someone is feeling or thinking: He had guilt written all over his face.9something has something written all over it used to say that something shows a particular quality or fact very clearly: The project had “failure” written all over it.10nothing to write home about (also not anything to write home about) informal not especially good or special: Their house is nothing to write home about.11somebody wrote the book on something spoken used to say that someone knows a lot about something or is very good at something: The company wrote the book on quality control.12that’s all she wrote spoken used to say that something is completely finished[Origin: Old English writan to scratch, draw, write]write away for something phrasal verb to write to a company or an organization and ask them for something SYN write off for, send off for: I wrote away for their free catalog.write back phrasal verb write somebody back to answer someone’s letter with another letter: Why didn’t you write him back? I hope she writes back soon.write something ↔ down phrasal verb to write information, ideas, etc. on a piece of paper in order to remember them: Did you write down his number?write in phrasal verb1 to write to an organization asking them for information or giving an opinion: Many viewers wrote in to complain about the show.2 write somebody ↔ in to add someone’s name to your ballot in order to vote for him or her, when he or she is not on the official list of candidates in a particular election → see also write-in3 write something ↔ in to write information in the space provided for it on a form or document: Could you write your name in at the top?4 write somebody/something ↔ in to add another part or feature to something that is written, for example a new scene or character to a play or a new condition to a contractwrite something into something phrasal verb to include something such as a rule or condition in a document, agreement, etc. or to add a new part or feature to something that is written, for example a new scene or character to a play or a new condition to a contract: Time for training was written into the schedule.write off phrasal verb1write somebody/something ↔ off to decide that someone or something is useless, unimportant, or a failure: write somebody/something off as something Coaches wrote him off as too short to play football.2write something ↔ off social studies, economics to officially say that someone does not have to pay a debt, or to accept that money you have paid or lent will not be paid back: The banks are refusing to write off these loans. → see also write-off3write something ↔ off social studies, economics to use an amount of money you have spent on something as a way to reduce your taxes → see also write-offwrite off for something phrasal verb to write to a company or an organization and ask them for something SYN write away for, send off for: I wrote off for some information about the college.write out phrasal verb1write something ↔ out to write something in its complete form, including all the details: Could you write out the procedures for ordering new equipment?2write something ↔ out to write information on a check or a form: Write the check out for $235.3write somebody ↔ out, write somebody out of something to remove one of the characters from a regular television or radio programwrite up phrasal verb1write something ↔ up to write a report, article, etc. using notes that you made earlier: I have to write my report up before the meeting.2be written up if a person, place, product, etc. is written up in a newspaper or magazine, someone has written an article giving his or her opinion about that person, place, etc.: The diner was written up in the local paper. → see also write-up3write somebody ↔ up to make an official written report of a crime or something wrong that someone has done: They wrote me up for being late again.
BOOK/ARTICLE ETC. a)[intransitive, transitive] to produce a new book, story, poem, etc. by putting words together: She spends the mornings writing. How many books has he written?write about We had to write about our summer vacation. → see also written2 b)[intransitive] to be a writer of books, plays, articles, etc., especially as a job: I’d love to write.write on LeBrun often writes on women’s issues.write for He writes for the Washington Post.THESAURUSdraft – to write something that you plan to make changes to later: I drafted an essay and then asked my professor for feedback.compose formal – to write something and choose the words you use carefully: It took him hours to compose the letter to his father.pen formal – to write something. Used in literary writing: Experts claim the poem was penned by Shakespeare.2LETTER [intransitive, transitive] to write a letter or message to someone: Don’t forget to write. Chris hasn’t written me for a long time. I wrote a few emails before lunch.write to I’m going to write to the manager about this.write something to somebody I wrote a letter to my former teacher.write somebody something I wrote all my friends postcards.write (somebody) that Uncle Brian wrote that he’ll come visit on the 26th.write to say/ask/express etc. something They wrote to say they were arriving earlier.3PUT WORDS/NUMBERS ON PAPER a)[intransitive, transitive] to form letters or numbers with a pen or pencil: Write your name here. He could read and write when he was four. b)[intransitive] if a pen or pencil writes, it works correctly: Which one of these pens still writes?THESAURUSprint – to write words without joining the letters together: Print your name at the top of the page.scribble – to write something very quickly and in a messy way: The doctor scribbled a prescription on his pad and handed it to me.scrawl – to write something quickly in a big messy way: The children had scrawled their names across the bottom of the card.type – to write something on a computer: Why don’t you type the letter? It will be easier to read.sign – to write your name at the end of a letter, document, etc.: Sign the contract here and here.write/jot something down – to write something very quickly, especially something short: He jotted down a few notes as we spoke.take/get something down – to write down what someone is saying: The professor spoke so quickly I couldn’t get it all down.make a note (of something) – to write down information that you might need later: Let me make a note of those prices, and I’ll call you back.put something in writing – to make something legal or official by writing it down and usually signing it: Make sure the company puts its promises in writing.fill something out – to write all the information that is needed in the spaces on an official document: I helped Julia fill out the application form.fill something in – to put information in the spaces on an official document or test: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.inscribe formal – to write words on something hard, usually by cutting them into the surface of something such as a stone or coin: His name was inscribed on the plaque.4CHECK/DOCUMENT ETC. [transitive] to write information on a check, form, etc. SYN write out: write somebody something Can I write you a check?5SONG/MUSIC [transitive] to produce a song or piece of music: She’s written songs for several shows.6COMPUTER PROGRAM [transitive] to produce a computer program: Engineers at our company wrote the software.7SPELL [transitive] to spell something or use a specific style or rule when you write it down: Katherine’s name is written with a K.8somebody has something written all over his/her face (also something is written all over somebody’s face) used to say that it is very clear what someone is feeling or thinking: He had guilt written all over his face.9something has something written all over it used to say that something shows a particular quality or fact very clearly: The project had “failure” written all over it.10nothing to write home about (also not anything to write home about) informal not especially good or special: Their house is nothing to write home about.11somebody wrote the book on something spoken used to say that someone knows a lot about something or is very good at something: The company wrote the book on quality control.12that’s all she wrote spoken used to say that something is completely finished[Origin: Old English writan to scratch, draw, write]write away for something phrasal verb to write to a company or an organization and ask them for something SYN write off for, send off for: I wrote away for their free catalog.write back phrasal verb write somebody back to answer someone’s letter with another letter: Why didn’t you write him back? I hope she writes back soon.write something ↔ down phrasal verb to write information, ideas, etc. on a piece of paper in order to remember them: Did you write down his number?write in phrasal verb1 to write to an organization asking them for information or giving an opinion: Many viewers wrote in to complain about the show.2 write somebody ↔ in to add someone’s name to your ballot in order to vote for him or her, when he or she is not on the official list of candidates in a particular election → see also write-in3 write something ↔ in to write information in the space provided for it on a form or document: Could you write your name in at the top?4 write somebody/something ↔ in to add another part or feature to something that is written, for example a new scene or character to a play or a new condition to a contractwrite something into something phrasal verb to include something such as a rule or condition in a document, agreement, etc. or to add a new part or feature to something that is written, for example a new scene or character to a play or a new condition to a contract: Time for training was written into the schedule.write off phrasal verb1write somebody/something ↔ off to decide that someone or something is useless, unimportant, or a failure: write somebody/something off as something Coaches wrote him off as too short to play football.2write something ↔ off social studies, economics to officially say that someone does not have to pay a debt, or to accept that money you have paid or lent will not be paid back: The banks are refusing to write off these loans. → see also write-off3write something ↔ off social studies, economics to use an amount of money you have spent on something as a way to reduce your taxes → see also write-offwrite off for something phrasal verb to write to a company or an organization and ask them for something SYN write away for, send off for: I wrote off for some information about the college.write out phrasal verb1write something ↔ out to write something in its complete form, including all the details: Could you write out the procedures for ordering new equipment?2write something ↔ out to write information on a check or a form: Write the check out for $235.3write somebody ↔ out, write somebody out of something to remove one of the characters from a regular television or radio programwrite up phrasal verb1write something ↔ up to write a report, article, etc. using notes that you made earlier: I have to write my report up before the meeting.2be written up if a person, place, product, etc. is written up in a newspaper or magazine, someone has written an article giving his or her opinion about that person, place, etc.: The diner was written up in the local paper. → see also write-up3write somebody ↔ up to make an official written report of a crime or something wrong that someone has done: They wrote me up for being late again.