- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to use a machine to put words or pictures onto paper.
v.to produce copies of text or images on a surface, typically paper, using a mechanical or digital process.
Simple“I need to print ten copies of the report for the meeting.”
In context“The office manager requested that we print the final draft on high-quality cardstock to ensure a professional presentation for the investors.”
UsageTransitive; requires a direct object representing the document or image.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to write letters clearly and separately, not joined together like in cursive.
v.to write characters in a style where letters are not connected, often for the sake of legibility.
Simple“Please print your name clearly at the top of the form.”
In context“The application instructions explicitly state that candidates must print their responses in black ink to facilitate digital scanning.”
UsageAmbitransitive; can be used with or without an object.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to include a story or article in a newspaper or book.
v.to publish or issue a text in a printed medium such as a journal or book.
Simple“The local newspaper decided to print her letter to the editor.”
In context“The magazine refused to print the controversial interview until their legal team had thoroughly vetted the claims made by the source.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.letters and words as they appear in a book or newspaper.
n.the letters or characters forming the text of a document, considered in terms of size or style.
Simple“The print in this book is too small for me to read without glasses.”
In context“The contract was intentionally designed with dense, tiny print to discourage the average consumer from reading the restrictive clauses in detail.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a mark left on a surface by something pressing against it, like a foot or finger.
n.a visible impression or mark left on a surface by a physical object.
Simple“The police found a muddy boot print near the broken window.”
In context“Forensic investigators carefully lifted a partial thumb print from the glass surface, hoping it would match a profile in the national database.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a picture or photograph that has been produced on paper.
n.a photograph produced from a negative or a work of art produced in multiple copies via a printing process.
Simple“She bought a beautiful print of a landscape to hang in her bedroom.”
In context“The gallery specialized in limited-edition prints, each signed and numbered by the artist to maintain their market value.”
Synonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.fabric that has a pattern or design printed on it.
n.cloth or fabric decorated with a printed pattern of dye.
Simple“She wore a bright floral print dress to the summer wedding.”
In context“The interior designer recommended a subtle geometric print for the curtains to complement the minimalist aesthetic of the living room.”
- 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing things like newspapers and magazines rather than TV or the internet.
adj.relating to or appearing in printed publications as opposed to broadcast or digital media.
Simple“He still prefers reading a print newspaper over the digital version.”
In context“Despite the rise of social media, print journalism remains a vital component of the democratic process by providing in-depth investigative reporting.”
Synonymspublishedhard copyAntonyms - 09 C2 Proficiency
v.when the shape of a hidden gun shows through someone's clothes.
v.to inadvertently reveal the outline of a concealed firearm through one's clothing.
Simple“He had to adjust his jacket because his holster was printing.”
In context“The undercover officer was concerned that his compact pistol was printing against his thin shirt, potentially compromising his identity to the suspects.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very specific term used primarily in the context of concealed carry in the United States.
“Post your questions below by 6pm on Wednesday 19 August and we’ll print his answers as part of our readers’ interview series.”
“Bill DeLind thought the Picasso print that was stolen from his Milwaukee gallery in 2018 was gone forever.”
From Middle English *printen, prenten, preenten, an apheretic form of emprinten, enprinten (“to impress; imprint”) (see imprint). Compare Dutch prenten (“to imprint”), Middle Low German prenten (“to print; write”), Danish prente (“to print”), Swedish prenta (“to write German letters”). Compare also Late Old French printer, preindre (“to press”), from Latin premere (“to press”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.