commentary

commentary — noun

1. spoken words that describe a sports match, ceremony, or other public event at th

1.nounB2
Definition

spoken words that describe a sports match, ceremony, or other public event at the same time as it happens, broadcast on radio or television

Example

The tennis star offered her commentary on the women's final from the TV studio.

offer/give/provide commentary

Priya turned on the radio to hear the commentary on the closing ceremony.

commentary + on + event

Common collocations
  • provide commentary
  • give commentary
  • live commentary
  • match commentary
  • expert commentary
  • commentary box
  • commentary team
Synonyms
  • narration

    focuses on the act of describing events as they unfold; less tied to broadcast media

  • coverage

    broader term for reporting an event, which may include commentary, interviews, and analysis

  • play-by-play

    informal term specific to sports commentary; very detailed moment-by-moment description

Grammar Patterns

commentary + on + noun phrase

provide/give/offer + commentary

Usage Note

A person who gives commentary is called a commentator. Common verbs used with this sense include provide, give, and offer.

Common Mistakes

The journalist made a commentary on the match.
The journalist gave a commentary on the match.
Use give, provide, or offer with commentary, not make.

2. a continuous moment-by-moment account of what someone is watching, hearing, or e

2.nounB2
Definition

a continuous moment-by-moment account of what someone is watching, hearing, or experiencing, given aloud as things happen

Example

Leila provided a funny running commentary on the fashion show while her sister watched.

running commentary

On the nature walk, the guide gave lively commentary about every bird they passed.

lively commentary + about

Common collocations
  • running commentary
  • continuous commentary
  • non-stop commentary
Synonyms
  • narration

    similar but does not imply the same sense of continuous, real-time description

  • account

    more formal and structured; usually given after the event, not during

Grammar Patterns

running commentary + on + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase running commentary to describe someone who narrates events the moment they happen, sometimes in an annoying or humorous way.

3. any written text, artwork, or spoken segment that gives an interpretation or jud

3.nounB2
Definition

any written text, artwork, or spoken segment that gives an interpretation or judgment about a topic — for instance, a newspaper column analysing politics, a review of a novel, or an essay about modern society

Example

The professor wrote a detailed commentary on the ancient text, explaining each chapter's hidden meaning.

write + commentary + on [subject]

This newspaper regularly publishes political commentary that challenges readers to think differently.

political commentary

Common collocations
  • social commentary
  • political commentary
  • cultural commentary
  • write commentary
  • publish commentary
  • offer commentary
  • commentary on society
Synonyms
  • analysis

    more systematic and methodical; focuses on breaking down parts and examining structure rather than giving a personal opinion

  • critique

    formal, evaluative; usually judges strengths and weaknesses, especially of art or literature

  • review

    shorter and more consumer-oriented; tells you whether a book, film, or product is worth your time

  • interpretation

    focuses on explaining what something means; more subjective and personal than commentary

Grammar Patterns

commentary + on + noun phrase

commentary + about + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is common in media contexts — newspaper columns, television segments, art exhibitions — where the writer or artist analyses current events, culture, or a specific work.

Common Mistakes

I wrote a commentary for the book.
I wrote a commentary on the book.
Commentary takes the preposition on (or about), not for.

4. an event, fact, or piece of behaviour that unintentionally shows the true, often

4.nounC1
Definition

an event, fact, or piece of behaviour that unintentionally shows the true, often negative, nature of a person, group, or situation

Example

The empty classroom desks were a sad commentary on the school's falling student numbers.

a sad commentary on [situation]

The factory closure is a grim commentary on the state of the local economy.

Common collocations
  • a sad commentary
  • a grim commentary
  • a revealing commentary
  • a terrible commentary
  • a telling commentary
Synonyms
  • reflection

    softer and less judgmental; can be positive or neutral

  • indication

    factual and neutral; does not carry the critical judgment that commentary does

  • revelation

    stronger; suggests something surprising or hidden is uncovered

Grammar Patterns

a + adjective + commentary + on + noun phrase

Usage Note

Almost always followed by on + noun. Only used in singular form (a commentary, not commentaries). Usually implies a negative or critical judgment about the situation being described.

Common Mistakes

The poor service was a very commentary on the restaurant.
The poor service was a sad commentary on the restaurant.
An adjective (sad, grim, revealing, terrible) is required before commentary in this sense.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Commentary, analysis, critique, and review all refer to forms of evaluation or explanation, but differ in focus and context. Commentary is a broad term for explanatory remarks or opinions on a subject — it can be spoken or written, formal or informal, and is often tied to current events or culture. Analysis involves methodically breaking something down into parts to understand its structure or meaning; it is more systematic and less personal than commentary. Critique is a formal, detailed evaluation, most often of a work of art or literature, that judges both strengths and weaknesses. Review is typically shorter and consumer-oriented — it tells you whether a film, book, or product is worth your time. For example, a newspaper might publish a political commentary (opinion on an issue), an analyst's breakdown of economic data (analysis), a literary critique of a prize-winning novel (judgment), and a film review (recommendation).

analysis ↗critique ↗review ↗interpretation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • commentator
  • commentary track
  • commentary box
  • commentary team

Adverbs

Phrases

  • running commentary
  • play-by-play commentary
  • a sad commentary on
  • a grim commentary on

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Commentary comes from Latin commentarius, meaning 'notebook' or 'annotation', which was derived from commentari ('to think about, to consider') — itself from com- (an intensive prefix) + mens ('mind'). The word travelled through French commentaire into Middle English in the 1400s, where it first referred to a memoir or an explanatory treatise. The modern broadcast meaning — a live spoken description of an event — emerged in the early 20th century alongside the rise of radio and television.