# transcribed

/tɹænsˈkɹaɪbd/ (US) · /tɹænskɹˈaɪbd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transcribed
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to write down something that was spoken, like a speech or a conversation. You can also use it to describe copying information from one form into another.

For teachers: to produce a written or printed version of oral speech or recorded audio. Often involves converting data from one medium or symbolic system into another while preserving the original content.

## Examples

- She transcribed the interview from the recording.
- The court reporter transcribed every word spoken during the three-hour hearing to ensure an accurate legal record.
- Historians spent years transcribing the fragile handwritten diaries into a digital format to make the primary sources accessible to researchers worldwide.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He transcribed the speech to the paper." but "He transcribed the speech onto the paper." — When specifying the physical surface or medium, 'onto' or 'into' is used rather than 'to'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically the speech or data being recorded.

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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.