commentate

UK: /ˈkɒmənteɪt/ US: (kom′ən tāt′)

Inflections of 'commentate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

commentates

v 3rd person singular

commentating

v pres p

commentated

v past

commentated

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•men•tate  (kom′ən tāt′), v., -tat•ed, -tat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to deliver a commentary on:
   to commentate a fashion show.
2. Literature to write a commentary on;
   annotate:
   to commentate the Book of Job.

v.i. 

3. to serve as a commentator:
   The senior staff member will commentate, as usual.
4. Literature to make explanatory or critical comments, as upon a text:
   the manuscript on which I am commentating.

• back formation from commentator 1785–95

Usage

Since the late 18th century, commentate has been used transitively with the meaning "to annotate'' and, since the mid 19th, intransitively with the meaning "to make explanatory or critical comments.'' These uses are now rare. Recently, commentate has developed the additional transitive sense "to deliver a commentary on'' and the intransitive sense "to serve as a commentator.'' These uses are occasionally criticized as journalistic jargon.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

commentate / ˈkɒmənˌteɪt/ verb

1. (intransitive) to serve as a commentator
2. (transitive) to make a commentary on (a text, event, etc)