write
/raɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
to form letters, words, or symbols on paper, a screen, or another surface using a pen, pencil, keyboard, or other tool.
- Please write your name here.
- She wrote the answer in her notebook.
- I write emails every morning.
- 2.
to create a text, message, book, article, or other piece of writing.
- He wrote a short story.
- They write reports for the company.
- She is writing a blog post.
- 3.
to send a written message or make something official in writing.
- Write to me when you arrive.
- Please write your complaint in an email.
- The doctor wrote a note for work.
Adinary Nuance
Write is the general word for putting words on paper or a screen. It is broader than compose, which sounds more formal and is often used for poems, music, or careful texts. It is also more everyday than draft, which suggests an early version, not the final result.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- viết
- Spanish
- escribir
- Chinese
- 写
- Japanese
- 書く
- Korean
- 쓰다
Etymology
Old English writean meant 'to score, draw, or write'. It is related to old Germanic words for marking or scratching, and it has kept its basic meaning in Modern English.
Common phrases
write a letterwrite an essaywrite downwrite back
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is write a formal or informal word?
- Write is neutral. You can use it in everyday speech, school work, and business writing.
- What is the difference between write and type?
- Write means put words on a page or screen. Type is more specific when you use a keyboard.
- Can I say 'write on' and 'write in'?
- Yes, but they mean different things. Write on means put words on a surface; write in means add text in a form or document.
- Is write common in IELTS writing tasks?
- Yes. It is a very common verb in academic and general English.