publish

publish — verb

1. To prepare a book, magazine, article, or other written work and make it availabl

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

To prepare a book, magazine, article, or other written work and make it available for people to buy, read, or access.

Example

Imani plans to publish her first novel next spring with a small press in Toronto.

publish + novel + with [publisher]

The research paper was published in a well-known medical journal last month.

passive: be published in [journal]

Common collocations
  • publish a book
  • publish an article
  • publish a paper
  • publish a novel
  • publish research
  • publish results
  • publish findings
  • publish a magazine
  • publish a journal
  • publish online
  • publish in a journal
  • publish by a press
Synonyms
  • issue

    More formal; often used for official documents or stamps rather than creative works

  • release

    Common for music, films, and software; broader than books

  • bring out

    Informal phrasal verb, especially British; 'They're bringing out a new edition.'

Antonyms
  • suppress

    To stop a work from being made public

  • withdraw

    To remove a published work from circulation

Grammar Patterns

publish + noun (book / article / paper / magazine)

be published + by [publisher]

publish + in/with [publisher/imprint]

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice when the focus is on the work rather than the publisher. 'Published in' is the standard pattern for journals; 'published by' names the publishing house.

Common Mistakes

I want to public my article online.
I want to publish my article online.
'public' is an adjective or noun; 'publish' is the verb.
The newspaper published from the company.
The newspaper was published by the company.
Use passive voice or 'The company published the newspaper.'

2. To put information, news, or data where everyone can see it, especially through

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

To put information, news, or data where everyone can see it, especially through the internet, television, or other media channels.

Example

The city council published the new safety guidelines on its website this morning.

publish + guidelines + on [website]

Abigail's blog publishes weekly updates about sustainable living in urban areas.

blog + publishes + updates

Common collocations
  • publish information
  • publish data
  • publish results
  • publish findings
  • publish a report
  • publish news
  • publish an update
  • publish a statement
  • publish online
  • publish on a website
  • publish on social media
Synonyms
  • release

    Emphasises making something available to the public; common for reports and data

  • make public

    A phrasal equivalent; slightly more formal and emphatic

  • disclose

    Formal; often suggests revealing something previously secret or private

Antonyms
  • conceal

    To keep information hidden from the public

  • suppress

    To prevent information from being known

Grammar Patterns

publish + noun (information / data / news / report)

be published + on [platform]

Usage Note

Common in news, government, and online contexts. Unlike Sense 1, this does not involve a commercial publishing industry — anyone can 'publish' information on a website or social media.

Common Mistakes

She published a status about her new job.' (when she posted on social media)
She posted a status about her new job.
'publish' is too formal for casual social media updates; use 'post' for quick personal updates.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Publish' is the standard term for making written works (books, articles, papers) commercially or academically available through established channels. 'Release' is broader — it covers music albums, films, software, and reports, often with a marketing angle. 'Issue' is more formal and typically used for official documents, stamps, bonds, or statements by an authority. 'Bring out' is an informal phrasal verb used mainly in British English for launching a new book or product. For example: Cambridge University Press will publish the textbook next year; the band released their debut album in March; the central bank issued a new statement on inflation; the publisher is bringing out a paperback edition in June.

publish ↗release ↗issue ↗bring out ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • recently published
  • newly published
  • widely published
  • originally published
  • first published
  • privately published
  • self-published

Phrases

  • publish or perish
  • publish a statement
  • publish online
  • publish in print

Prepositions

  • published in
  • published by
  • published on
  • published through
  • published under (a pseudonym)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Latin 'publicare' meaning 'to make public', which comes from 'publicus' ('of the people'). The word entered Middle English through Old French 'puplier' and later shifted to 'publish' in the 14th century. The modern sense of printing and selling books emerged in the 16th century after the invention of the printing press.