remark

remark — verb

1. to say something that expresses what you think or feel about a person, event, or

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to say something that expresses what you think or feel about a person, event, or situation you have just seen, heard, or read about

Example

Takeshi remarked that the new library was much brighter than the old one.

remark + that-clause for stating an opinion

Nila remarked on how patiently the children were waiting for their turn.

remark on + how + adjective clause

Common collocations
  • remark on
  • remark upon
  • remark that
  • remark how
Synonyms
  • comment

    more general; remark often implies a brief, off-the-cuff comment

  • note

    slightly more formal; suggests pointing something out for attention

  • observe

    more formal; implies thoughtful noticing

Grammar Patterns

remark + that-clause

remark on/upon + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with a that-clause to report what someone said. When using on or upon, the focus is typically on a detail the speaker noticed.

Common Mistakes

She remarked about the problem.
She remarked on the problem.
with remark as a verb, the correct preposition is on or upon, not about.
He remarked me that the bus was late.
He remarked that the bus was late.
remark does not take an indirect object; the person being addressed is not stated directly.
Phrasal verbs

remark on/upon

phrasal verb

to say something about a particular aspect of a person or thing, especially something you have noticed

Emily remarked on the fresh flowers in every room of the hotel.

The judge remarked upon the defendant's willingness to take responsibility.

remark — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Remark, comment, observation, and statement all refer to something someone says, but they differ in tone and context. A remark is the most casual — a brief, often spontaneous expression of opinion made in conversation ('Her remark about the weather broke the silence'). A comment can be spoken or written and is slightly more deliberate, sometimes offering evaluation or feedback ('The teacher wrote a comment on the essay'). An observation suggests careful noticing and a thoughtful tone, often used for insights gained from watching ('Darwin's observations of finches shaped his theory'). A statement is the most formal and official, carrying weight and often made publicly ('The company issued a statement denying the claim'). For everyday speech, remark and comment are closest; use observation for a considered insight and statement for formal announcements.

remark ↗comment ↗observation ↗statement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a remark
  • pass a remark
  • let slip a remark

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

The word remark comes from the French verb remarquer, formed from re- (again) and marquer (to mark). In the 1600s, English speakers borrowed it with the meaning 'to mark again' or 'to notice.' Over time, the sense shifted from noticing something to saying something about what you had noticed — turning an act of attention into a spoken opinion.