comment
something that you say or write that expresses your opinion
He made negative comments to the press.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
noun
something that you say that shows what you think about something:
She made some interesting comments about the film.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
comment
I. com‧ment1 S1 W2 AC /ˈkɒment $ ˈkɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑comment, ↑commentary; verb: ↑comment]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: commentum, from Latin, 'invention', from comminisci 'to invent']
1. [uncountable and countable] an opinion that you express about someone or something SYN remark
comment on/about
his comments about asylum seekers
He was fined for making abusive comments to the referee.
no comment (=used by people in public life when they do not want to answer questions)
2. [uncountable] criticism or discussion of something someone has said or done:
The speech received much comment in the press.
3. be a comment on something to be a sign of the bad quality of something:
The number of adults who cannot read is a sad comment on the quality of our schools.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ make a comment Everyone was making appreciative comments about the delicious food.
▪ have a comment (=want to make a comment) Do you have any comments on that, David?
▪ pass (a) comment British English (=give an opinion) He looked at my photos but he didn’t pass comment.
▪ invite comment(s) (=ask people to give an opinion) The website invites comments from people who visit it.
▪ welcome comments (=be glad to hear people’s opinions) We would welcome your comments and suggestions.
▪ receive comments It is very helpful to receive comments from the public.
■ adjectives
▪ a brief/quick comment I just want to make a very brief comment.
▪ a helpful/constructive comment (=one that helps you make progress) Pay close attention to your teacher’s constructive comments.
▪ a positive/negative comment There were some very positive comments in the report.
▪ a critical comment The school has received critical comments from inspectors.
▪ (a) fair comment (=a criticism that is reasonable) I accepted as fair comment 90% of what he said.
▪ a snide comment (=unkind and made in a secret or indirect way) She made some really snide comments about you when you weren’t here.
▪ a disparaging/derogatory comment (=criticizing someone or something in an unpleasant way) Never make disparaging comments about a colleague’s work.
▪ a scathing/damning comment (=a very critical one) There were a lot of scathing comments about the film.
▪ an appreciative comment (=showing that you think something is good or nice) Appreciative comments may improve your staff’s performance.
▪ a sarcastic comment (=in which you say the opposite of what you mean, as an unkind joke) I tried to stay calm, despite his sarcastic comments.
▪ a casual comment (=not very serious or important) I only made a casual comment about finding the work a bit boring.
▪ a passing comment (=a quick comment made without thinking about it very carefully) She got upset about a passing comment I made about her clothes.
▪ a shrewd comment (=good at judging people or situations) His newspaper article is always full of shrewd comments.
▪ a wry comment (=saying that something is bad in an amusing way) ‘Perhaps the food could be improved,’ was the wry comment of one prisoner.
▪ a bitter comment (=an angry one) Several pensioners passed some bitter comments.
▪ a public comment The jury are forbidden from making public comments.
THESAURUS
▪ comment something that you say or write in order to give your opinion: Does anyone have any comments? | Readers are invited to send in their comments and suggestions.
▪ remark something that you say: Just ignore them if they start making rude remarks. | I’m not sure what he meant by that last remark.
▪ point something that someone mentions about a subject in a discussion, argument, article etc: That’s an interesting point, Steve. | He raises (=mentions) a number of important points in his paper.
▪ observation a comment in which you say what you think or have noticed about something: Karl Marx made the observation that history repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce.
▪ aside a comment made in a low voice, that you intend only certain people to hear: ‘Is that true?’, she whispered in an aside to Don.
▪ quip /kwɪp/ a clever and amusing comment: She knew she should reply with some light-hearted quip.
▪ dig informal a comment you make to annoy or criticize someone: I’m tired of her little digs at me.
▪ taunt /tɔːnt $ tɒːnt/ a comment intended to make someone angry or upset: The fans made racist taunts throughout the game.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
comment
com·ment AW [comment comments commented commenting] noun, verb [ˈkɒment] [ˈkɑːment]
noun
1. countable, uncountable ~ (about/on sth) something that you say or write which gives an opinion on or explains sb/sth
• Have you any comment to make about the cause of the disaster?
• She made helpful comments on my work.
• The director was not available for comment.
• He handed me the document without comment.
• (computing) Please email us or leave a comment on our website.
• (especially BrE) What she said was fair comment (= a reasonable criticism).
2. singular, uncountable criticism that shows the faults of sth
• The results are a clear comment on government education policy.
• There was a lot of comment about his behaviour.
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘explanatory piece of writing’): from Latin commentum ‘contrivance’ (in late Latin also ‘interpretation’), neuter past participle of comminisci ‘devise’.
Thesaurus:
comment noun C
• She made helpful comments on my work.
remark • • statement • |formal observation •
a/an comment/remark/observation/statement about sth
a/an comment/observation/statement on sth
make a comment/remark/observation/statement
Comment, remark or observation? A comment can be official or private. An observation may be more considered than a remark, but both are always unofficial.
Synonyms:
statement
comment • announcement • remark • declaration • observation
These are all words for sth that you say or write, especially sth that gives information or an opinion.
statement • something that you say or write that gives information or an opinion, often in a formal way: ▪ A government spokesperson made a statement to the press.
comment • something that you say or write that gives an opinion on sth or is a response to a question about a particular situation: ▪ She made helpful comments on my work.
announcement • a spoken or written statement that informs people about sth: ▪ the announcement of a peace agreement
remark • something that you say or write that gives an opinion or thought about sb/sth: ▪ He made a number of rude remarks about the food.
declaration • (rather formal) an official or formal statement, especially one that states an intention, belief or feeling, or that gives information: ▪ the declaration of war
observation • (rather formal) a comment, especially one based on sth you have seen, heard or read: ▪ He began by making a few general observations about the report.
comment, remark or observation?
A comment can be official or private. A remark can be made in public or private but is always unofficial and the speaker may not have considered it carefully. An observation is unofficial but is usually more considered than a remark.
a(n) statement/comment/announcement/remark/declaration/observation about sth
a(n) statement/comment/observation on sth
a(n) public/official statement/comment/announcement/declaration
to make a(n) statement/comment/announcement/remark/declaration/observation
to issue a(n) statement/announcement/declaration
Example Bank:
• Editorial comment in the press tended to support the government in this matter.
• Feel free to post your comments if you have any.
• He made a few casual comments to her about her hair and now she's chopped it all off!
• Her novels were a vehicle for shrewd social comment.
• Highly critical comments have been made about the conduct of some ministers.
• His visits were the source of much comment.
• I would prefer not to pass comment before I have more information on the case.
• If you have any comments, please send them to the above address.
• KPJ officials declined comment.
• She accepted his diagnosis without comment.
• She directed all her comments at Steve.
• She made a cryptic comment about how the film mirrored her life.
• The article attracted much adverse comment.
• The attack is a sad comment on the public's understanding of mental illness.
• The minister was unavailable for comment last night.
• The school has invited comments from parents about the new curriculum.
• The spokesman was not available for comment last night.
• This idea deserves more than passing comment.
• Viewers are encouraged to phone in questions and comments.
• We have received many helpful comments from fellow-sufferers.
• We welcome comments from readers.
• What she said was (a) fair comment.
• When asked about the allegations, the chairman replied ‘no comment’.
• a book with critical comment on the various strands of feminism
• a general comment on the weather
Idiom: no comment
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
comment / ˈkɒm.ent / / ˈkɑː.ment / noun [ C or U ]
B1 something that you say or write that expresses your opinion:
I don't want any comments on/about my new haircut, thank you!
He made negative comments to the press.
I suppose his criticism was fair comment (= a reasonable opinion) .
She was asked about the pay increase but made no comment (= did not give an opinion) .
no comment
C2 used to say that you do not want to answer someone's question
Word partners for comment noun
make a comment • pass comment • attract / draw / excite comment • adverse / caustic / critical / disparaging comments • favourable comments • a casual / general / passing comment • fair comment • comments about / on sth • without comment
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
comment
[kɒ̱ment]
comments, commenting, commented
1) VERB If you comment on something, you give your opinion about it or you give an explanation for it.
[V on n/wh] So far, Mr Cook has not commented on these reports...
[V on n/wh] Stratford police refuse to comment on whether anyone has been arrested...
You really can't comment till you know the facts...
[V with quote] `I'm always happy with new developments,' he commented...
[V that] Stuart commented that this was very true.
2) N-VAR A comment is something that you say which expresses your opinion of something or which gives an explanation of it.
He made his comments at a news conference in Amsterdam...
I was wondering whether you had any comments about that?...
There's been no comment so far from police about the allegations...
Lady Thatcher, who is abroad, was not available for comment.
3) N-SING: usu a N on n If an event or situation is a comment on something, it reveals something about that thing, usually something bad.
He argues that family problems are typically a comment on some unresolved issues in the family.
Syn:
reflection
4) CONVENTION People say `no comment' as a way of refusing to answer a question, usually when it is asked by a journalist.
No comment. I don't know anything.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1com·ment /ˈkɑːˌmɛnt/ noun, pl -ments
1 a : a spoken or written statement that expresses an opinion about someone or something
[count]
• The most frequent comment was that the service was slow.
• I find your comments offensive.
• I'd like to begin with a few general comments.
• We have no further comments. [=we have nothing more to say]
• Comments or suggestions can be sent to our main Web address.
• She heard him making rude comments [=remarks] about the neighbors.
• We haven't gotten any comments on/about the new design.
• I'd appreciate your comments on this issue.
• We've received positive comments from many of our readers.
[noncount]
• She couldn't be reached for comment.
• We let the remark pass without comment. [=we did not respond to the remark]
✦The phrase no comment is used to tell someone (such as a reporter) that you do not wish to answer a question.
• “Did you know the defendant well?” “No comment.” synonyms see1remark
b [count] : a written note that explains or discusses the meaning of something (such as a piece of writing)
• The new edition includes the translator's comments.
2 [noncount] : spoken or written discussion about something (such as an event in the news)
• The radio program offers news and comment.
• The trial drew widespread comment.
3 [count] : something that shows or makes a statement about the true state or condition of something - usually singular; + on
• Their case is a sad comment [=commentary] on the current state of the justice system.
• She sees the film as a comment on modern values.
