English Reference

Word

document

Phoneticsdoc·u·ment, stress on the first syllable

/ˈdɑkjəmɛnt/

Definitions

01official paper

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. an official paper that gives information or proof of something.

n. an original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of a claim or transaction.

“You must bring a legal document, like a passport, to the bank.”

“The solicitor requested every relevant document pertaining to the property sale to ensure the title was clear of any previous claims.”

02digital file

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing

n. a computer file that contains text, like a letter or a report.

n. a digital file containing text or multimedia content, typically created with a word processor.

“I saved the document on my desktop so I could find it easily.”

“The software allows multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously, tracking changes in real time across different devices.”

Synonyms

filetext file

03to record

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic

v. to record the details of something in writing, photos, or film.

v. to record information in written, photographic, or other form to create a permanent account.

“The photographer wanted to document how people live in small villages.”

“Historians have spent decades trying to document the daily lives of ordinary citizens during the industrial revolution using surviving journals and letters.”

Antonyms

04to provide evidence

C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal

v. to provide papers or evidence to prove that something is true.

v. to furnish with documents or evidence necessary to establish facts or support a specific argument.

“You need to document your expenses if you want the company to pay you back.”

“The research paper was meticulously documented, citing over fifty primary sources to support its controversial thesis.”

Antonyms

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Domain

Computing

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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English Reference