write
♦♦♦ write /r'aɪt/ (writes writing wrote written)
1 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V, V n
When you write something on a surface, you use something such as a pen or pencil to produce words, letters, or numbers on the surface.
If you'd like one, simply write your name and address on a postcard and send it to us...
They were still trying to teach her to read and write...
He wrote the word `pride' in huge letters on the blackboard.
2 [VERB] V n, V n, V n for n, V n n
If you write something such as a book, a poem, or a piece of music, you create it and record it on paper or perhaps on a computer.
I had written quite a lot of orchestral music in my student days...
Finding a volunteer to write the computer program isn't a problem...
Thereafter she wrote articles for papers and magazines in Paris...
Jung Lu wrote me a poem once.
3 [VERB] V, V for n
Someone who writes creates books, stories, or articles, usually for publication.
Jay wanted to write...
She writes for many papers, including the Sunday Times...
4 [VERB] V to n, V n n, V n to n, V, V n
When you write to someone or write them a letter, you give them information, ask them something, or express your feelings in a letter. In American English, you can also write someone.
Many people have written to me on this subject...
She had written him a note a couple of weeks earlier...
I wrote a letter to the car rental agency, explaining what had happened...
Why didn't you write, call, anything?...
He had written her in Italy but received no reply.
nothing to write home about: see home
5 [VERB] V n, V n n, also V n for n
When someone writes something such as a cheque, receipt, or prescription, they put the necessary information on it and usually sign it.
Snape wrote a receipt with a gold fountain pen...
I'll write you a cheque in a moment.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P n, also V n P
Write out means the same as write.
We went straight to the estate agent and wrote out a cheque...
Get my wife to write you out a receipt before you leave.
6 [VERB] V to/onto n, also V, V n to/onto n
If you write to a computer or a disk, you record data on it. (COMPUTING)
You should write-protect all disks that you do not usually need to write to.
7
see also writing, writtenwrite back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you write back to someone who has sent you a letter, you write them a letter in reply.
Macmillan wrote back saying that he could certainly help...
I wrote back to Meudon at once to fix up a meeting.write down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you write something down, you record it on a piece of paper using a pen or pencil.
On the morning before starting the fast, write down your starting weight...
Only by writing things down could I bring some sort of order to the confusion.write in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you write in to an organization, you send them a letter.
What's the point in writing in when you only print half the letter anyway?...
So there's another thing that you might like to write in to this programme about.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
In the United States, if someone who is voting in an election writes in a person whose name is not on the list of candidates, they write that person's name on the voting paper and vote for him or her.
I think I'll write in Pat Wilson...
I'm going to write him in on my ballot next year.
3
see also write-inwrite into
[PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P n, V n P n
If a rule or detail is written into a contract, law, or agreement, it is included in it when the contract, law, or agreement is made.
They insisted that a guaranteed supply of Chinese food was written into their contracts...
I didn't write that into the rules but I don't think it's a bad idea.write off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you write off to a company or organization, you send them a letter, usually asking for something.
He wrote off to the New Zealand Government for these pamphlets about life in New Zealand.
= write
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone writes off a debt or an amount of money that has been spent on a project, they accept that they are never going to get the money back. (BUSINESS)
The president persuaded the West to write off Polish debts...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V n P as n/adj, V P n (not pron) as n/adj
If you write someone or something off, you decide that they are unimportant or useless and that they are not worth further serious attention.
He is fed up with people writing him off because of his age...
His critics write him off as too cautious to succeed...
These people are difficult to write off as malingering employees.
= dismiss
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If someone writes off a vehicle, they have a crash in it and it is so badly damaged that it is not worth repairing. (BRIT)
John's written off four cars. Now he sticks to public transport...
One of Pete's friends wrote his car off there.
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you write off a plan or project, you accept that it is not going to be successful and do not continue with it.
We decided to write off the rest of the day and go shopping...
The prices were much higher. So we decided to write that off...
6
see also write-offwrite out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you write out something fairly long such as a report or a list, you write it on paper.
We had to write out a list of ten jobs we'd like to do...
The application form is important. Sit down and write it out properly.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P of n, also V n P
If a character in a drama series is written out, he or she is taken out of the series.
When Angie was written out of `Eastenders' her character went to Spain to open a bar...
3
see write 5write up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you write up something that has been done or said, you record it on paper in a neat and complete form, usually using notes that you have made.
He wrote up his visit in a report of over 600 pages...
Mr Sadler conducted interviews, and his girlfriend wrote them up.
see also write-up
1 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V, V n
When you write something on a surface, you use something such as a pen or pencil to produce words, letters, or numbers on the surface.
If you'd like one, simply write your name and address on a postcard and send it to us...
They were still trying to teach her to read and write...
He wrote the word `pride' in huge letters on the blackboard.
2 [VERB] V n, V n, V n for n, V n n
If you write something such as a book, a poem, or a piece of music, you create it and record it on paper or perhaps on a computer.
I had written quite a lot of orchestral music in my student days...
Finding a volunteer to write the computer program isn't a problem...
Thereafter she wrote articles for papers and magazines in Paris...
Jung Lu wrote me a poem once.
3 [VERB] V, V for n
Someone who writes creates books, stories, or articles, usually for publication.
Jay wanted to write...
She writes for many papers, including the Sunday Times...
4 [VERB] V to n, V n n, V n to n, V, V n
When you write to someone or write them a letter, you give them information, ask them something, or express your feelings in a letter. In American English, you can also write someone.
Many people have written to me on this subject...
She had written him a note a couple of weeks earlier...
I wrote a letter to the car rental agency, explaining what had happened...
Why didn't you write, call, anything?...
He had written her in Italy but received no reply.
nothing to write home about: see home
5 [VERB] V n, V n n, also V n for n
When someone writes something such as a cheque, receipt, or prescription, they put the necessary information on it and usually sign it.
Snape wrote a receipt with a gold fountain pen...
I'll write you a cheque in a moment.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P n, also V n P
Write out means the same as write.
We went straight to the estate agent and wrote out a cheque...
Get my wife to write you out a receipt before you leave.
6 [VERB] V to/onto n, also V, V n to/onto n
If you write to a computer or a disk, you record data on it. (COMPUTING)
You should write-protect all disks that you do not usually need to write to.
7
see also writing, writtenwrite back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you write back to someone who has sent you a letter, you write them a letter in reply.
Macmillan wrote back saying that he could certainly help...
I wrote back to Meudon at once to fix up a meeting.write down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you write something down, you record it on a piece of paper using a pen or pencil.
On the morning before starting the fast, write down your starting weight...
Only by writing things down could I bring some sort of order to the confusion.write in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you write in to an organization, you send them a letter.
What's the point in writing in when you only print half the letter anyway?...
So there's another thing that you might like to write in to this programme about.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
In the United States, if someone who is voting in an election writes in a person whose name is not on the list of candidates, they write that person's name on the voting paper and vote for him or her.
I think I'll write in Pat Wilson...
I'm going to write him in on my ballot next year.
3
see also write-inwrite into
[PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P n, V n P n
If a rule or detail is written into a contract, law, or agreement, it is included in it when the contract, law, or agreement is made.
They insisted that a guaranteed supply of Chinese food was written into their contracts...
I didn't write that into the rules but I don't think it's a bad idea.write off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you write off to a company or organization, you send them a letter, usually asking for something.
He wrote off to the New Zealand Government for these pamphlets about life in New Zealand.
= write
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone writes off a debt or an amount of money that has been spent on a project, they accept that they are never going to get the money back. (BUSINESS)
The president persuaded the West to write off Polish debts...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V n P as n/adj, V P n (not pron) as n/adj
If you write someone or something off, you decide that they are unimportant or useless and that they are not worth further serious attention.
He is fed up with people writing him off because of his age...
His critics write him off as too cautious to succeed...
These people are difficult to write off as malingering employees.
= dismiss
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If someone writes off a vehicle, they have a crash in it and it is so badly damaged that it is not worth repairing. (BRIT)
John's written off four cars. Now he sticks to public transport...
One of Pete's friends wrote his car off there.
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you write off a plan or project, you accept that it is not going to be successful and do not continue with it.
We decided to write off the rest of the day and go shopping...
The prices were much higher. So we decided to write that off...
6
see also write-offwrite out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you write out something fairly long such as a report or a list, you write it on paper.
We had to write out a list of ten jobs we'd like to do...
The application form is important. Sit down and write it out properly.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P of n, also V n P
If a character in a drama series is written out, he or she is taken out of the series.
When Angie was written out of `Eastenders' her character went to Spain to open a bar...
3
see write 5write up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you write up something that has been done or said, you record it on paper in a neat and complete form, usually using notes that you have made.
He wrote up his visit in a report of over 600 pages...
Mr Sadler conducted interviews, and his girlfriend wrote them up.
see also write-up