/ ˈkɒment; NAmE ˈkɑːm-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] comment (about / on sth) something that you say or write which gives an opinion on or explains sb/sth :
Have you any comment to make about the cause of the disaster?
She made helpful comments on my work.
The director was not available for comment.
He handed me the document without comment.
( especially BrE )
What she said was fair comment (= a reasonable criticism) .
➡ note at statement
2.
[ sing. , U ] criticism that shows the faults of sth :
The results are a clear comment on government education policy.
There was a lot of comment about his behaviour.
•
IDIOMS
- no comment
■ verb
comment (on / upon sth) to express an opinion about sth :
[ v ]
I don't feel I can comment on their decision.
He refused to comment until after the trial.
[ v that ]
A spokesperson commented that levels of carbon dioxide were very high.
[ v speech ]
'Not his best performance,' she commented to the woman sitting next to her.
••
SYNONYMS
comment
note ♦ remark ♦ observe
These words all mean to say or write a fact or opinion.
comment
to express an opinion or give facts about sth:
He refused to comment until after the trial.
note
( rather formal ) to mention sth because it is important or interesting:
He noted in passing that the company's record on safety issues was not good.
remark
to say or write what you have noticed about a situation:
Critics remarked that the play was not original.
observe
( formal ) to say or write what you have noticed about a situation:
She observed that it was getting late.
comment, remark or observe?
If you comment on sth you say sth about it; if you remark on sth or observe sth, you say sth about it that you have noticed: there is often not much difference between the three. However, while you can refuse to comment (without on ), you cannot 'refuse to remark' or 'refuse to observe' (without on ): He refused to remark / observe until after the trial.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to comment / note / remark / observe that...
to comment on / note / remark / observe how...
'It's long,' he commented / noted / remarked / observed.
to comment / remark on sth
to comment / remark / observe to sb
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense explanatory piece of writing ): from Latin commentum contrivance (in late Latin also interpretation), neuter past participle of comminisci devise.