# edit

/ˈɛdət/ (US) · /ˈɛdɪt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to revise text or media

verb · CEFR B1

to check and change a piece of writing, a video, or a photo to make it better or correct mistakes.

For teachers: to prepare written, visual, or audio material for publication or presentation by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it.

- I need to edit my essay one more time before I send it to the teacher.
- The director spent several months in the studio to edit the raw footage into a coherent two-hour narrative.

### 2. to manage a publication

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to be the person in charge of a newspaper, magazine, or book series.

For teachers: to serve as the editor of a periodical or a specific volume, overseeing content selection and stylistic consistency.

- She has edited the local newspaper for over twenty years.
- He was invited to edit a special collection of academic papers focusing on renewable energy transitions in developing nations.

### 3. to change DNA

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to change the genetic code of a living thing.

For teachers: to alter the DNA sequence of an organism, typically through gene-splicing techniques.

- Scientists are learning how to edit genes to prevent certain diseases.
- The ability to precisely edit the human genome has sparked significant ethical debates within the global scientific community.

### 4. a change made

noun · CEFR B1

a specific change you make to a document or file.

For teachers: an instance of modification or revision made to a text, digital file, or website.

- I made a few small edits to the report to fix the spelling errors.
- After reviewing the draft, the supervisor suggested several substantive edits to the methodology section of the proposal.

### 5. a fan video

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a short video made by a fan that puts together many cool moments from a show or movie.

For teachers: a compilation of media clips, often highly stylised with music and visual effects, created by fans or social media users.

- She posted a tribute edit of her favourite singer on social media.
- The athlete's viral edit featured a montage of his best career goals set to a high-tempo electronic soundtrack.

## Examples

- I need to edit my essay before I send it.
- The software allows users to edit their photos by adjusting the brightness and removing unwanted objects from the background.
- While the author provides the creative vision, the publisher's team must carefully edit the manuscript to ensure stylistic consistency and factual accuracy throughout the entire volume.

---

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.