verb (used with object),wrote or (Archaic) writ;writ·ten or (Archaic) writ;writ·ing.
to trace or form (characters, letters, words, etc.) on the surface of some material, as with a pen, pencil, or other instrument or means; inscribe: Write your name on the board.
to express or communicate in writing; give a written account of: She wrote to thank us for the hospitality.
to fill in the blank spaces of (a printed form) with writing: to write a check.
to execute or produce by setting down words, figures, etc.: to write two copies of a letter.
to compose and produce in words or characters duly set down: to write a letter to a friend.
to produce as author or composer: to write a sonnet; to write a symphony.
to trace significant characters on, or mark or cover with writing.
to cause to be apparent or unmistakable: Honesty is written on his face.
Computers. to transfer (information, data, programs, etc.) from storage to secondary storage or an output medium.
Stock Exchange. to sell (options).
to underwrite.
verb (used without object),wrote or (Archaic) writ;writ·ten or (Archaic) writ;writ·ing.
to trace or form characters, words, etc., with a pen, pencil, or other instrument or means, or as a pen or the like does: He writes with a pen.
to write as a profession or occupation: She writes for the Daily Inquirer.
to express ideas in writing: He wrote about his trip to Borneo.
to write a letter or letters, or communicate by letter: Write if you get work.
to compose or work as a writer or author.
Computers. to write into a secondary storage device or output medium.
Verb Phrases
write down,
to set down in writing; record; note.
to direct one's writing to a less intelligent reader or audience: He writes down to the public.
write in,
to vote for (a candidate not listed on the ballot) by writing his or her name on the ballot.
to include in or add to a text by writing: Do not write in corrections on the galley.
to request something by mail: If interested, please write in for details.
write off,
to cancel an entry in an account, as an unpaid and uncollectable debt.
to regard as worthless, lost, obsolete, etc.; decide to forget: to write off their bad experience.
to amortize: The new equipment was written off in three years.
write out,
to put into writing.
to write in full form; state completely.
to exhaust the capacity or resources of by excessive writing: He's just another author who has written himself out.
write up,
to put into writing, especially in full detail: Write up a report.
to present to public notice in a written description or account.
Accounting.to make an excessive valuation of (an asset).
Origin of write
First recorded before 900; Middle English writen, Old English wrītan; cognate with Old Saxon wrītan “to cut, write,” German reissen “to tear, draw,” Old Norse rīta “to score, write”
SYNONYMS FOR write
6 compose, pen, author, draft, create.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR write ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM write
mis·write,verb (used with object),mis·wrote,mis·writ·ten,mis·writ·ing.
In l.5, the scribe Farman miswrote caldas as galdas, in Matt.
English Dialects From the Eighth Century to the Present Day|Walter W. Skeat
British Dictionary definitions for write
write
/ (raɪt) /
verbwrites, writing, wroteorwritten
to draw or mark (symbols, words, etc) on a surface, usually paper, with a pen, pencil, or other instrument
to describe or record (ideas, experiences, etc) in writing
to compose (a letter) to or correspond regularly with (a person, organization, etc)
(tr; may take a clause as object)to say or communicate by letterhe wrote that he was on his way
(tr)informal, mainlyUS and Canadianto send a letter to (a person, etc)
to write (words) in cursive as opposed to printed style
(tr)to be sufficiently familiar with (a specified style, language, etc) to use it in writing
to be the author or composer of (books, music, etc)
(tr)to fill in the details for (a document, form, etc)
(tr)to draw up or draft
(tr)to produce by writinghe wrote ten pages
(tr)to show clearlyenvy was written all over his face
(tr)to spell, inscribe, or entitle
(tr)to ordain or prophesyit is written
(tr)to sit (an examination)
(intr)to produce writing as specified
computingto record (data) in a location in a storage deviceCompare read 1 (def. 16)
(tr) Compare underwrite (def. 3a)
See also write down, write in, write off, write out, write up
Derived forms of write
writable, adjective
Word Origin for write
Old English wrītan (originally: to scratch runes into bark); related to Old Frisian wrīta, Old Norse rīta, Old High German rīzan (German reissen to tear)