# comment

/ˈkɑmɛnt/ (US) · /kˈɒmɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/comment
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a remark

noun · CEFR A2

something you say or write to express an opinion or explain something.

For teachers: a spoken or written remark that expresses an opinion, reaction, or explanation.

- The teacher wrote a helpful comment at the bottom of my essay.
- The minister declined to make a public comment regarding the ongoing investigation until all the facts were verified.

Usage: Often takes the prepositions 'on' or 'about'.

### 2. programming note

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a note in computer code that explains what the code does but is ignored by the computer.

For teachers: a remark embedded in source code intended for human readers and ignored by the compiler or interpreter.

- I added a comment to the code so my teammate would understand why I changed the function.
- The developer was criticised for failing to include comments in the legacy code, making maintenance nearly impossible for the new team.

### 3. to give an opinion

verb · CEFR B1

to say or write something to give your opinion about a situation.

For teachers: to express an opinion or reaction in speech or writing.

- The celebrity refused to comment on the rumors about her private life.
- Economists have commented extensively on the potential impact of the new trade agreement on local manufacturing.

Usage: Intransitive use usually requires the preposition 'on'.

Teaching tip: Learners often forget the 'on' after the verb; remind them it is 'comment on something' rather than 'comment something'.

### 4. to add notes to code

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to add explanatory notes to computer code or to turn code into a note so it does not run.

For teachers: to insert explanatory remarks into source code or to disable code by converting it into a comment.

- You should comment your code as you write it to help others read it later.
- The engineer decided to comment out the experimental block of code rather than deleting it entirely.

Usage: Often used in the phrasal verb 'comment out'.

## Examples

- She left a helpful comment on my blog post.
- The developer added a comment to the code to explain why the specific calculation was necessary for the final report.
- While the primary text provides the historical narrative, the author's marginal comments offer a more personal perspective on the events described in the main chapters.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.