What does commented mean?
"Commented" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "comment," meaning to have expressed an opinion, remark, or observation about something, whether aloud or in writing. The word is a staple of journalism and public discourse: officials are reported to have "commented on" policy decisions, experts have "commented that" markets would react, and readers routinely leave comments online. It typically pairs with the preposition "on" or "upon" to indicate the subject being discussed, as in "she commented on the proposal." Neutral in tone, the word carries no inherent approval or disapproval; the attitude lies in what was actually said. Derived from Latin roots meaning "to think over," it belongs to a family that includes "commentary" and "commentator." Its enduring usefulness lies in its precision: unlike "said," which merely reports speech, "commented" signals that the speaker offered an interpretation, judgement, or reaction rather than a plain statement of fact.
verbThe past tense and past participle of the verb "comment": to have expressed an opinion, observation, or remark about something, either in speech or writing.
- To have expressed an opinion, remark, or observation about something, in speech or writing.
- (Less common) To have served as commentary or explanatory note on a text or event.
"Several economists commented on the government's new spending plans."
"Reviewers commented favourably on the novel's understated prose."
""It's too early to say," she commented, when asked about the merger."
When a journalist writes "the minister declined to comment," the silence itself becomes news — proof that what we choose not to say can speak as loudly as any remark.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of commented
"Commented" derives from "comment," which entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French from Latin "commentum," meaning an invention or thought, based on "com-" (together) and the root of "mentiri" or more broadly "mens" (mind), hence "to think over." The verb sense of making remarks developed later than the noun's original meaning of an explanatory note on a text. Cognates sharing the same mental root include "mention," "mental," and "mind."
Related word forms
How commented is actually used
"Commented" is neutral in register and suits both formal reporting (news articles frequently use it to attribute remarks) and everyday conversation. In journalism it often appears with attribution: "she commented that..." It takes the preposition "on" (or less commonly "upon") when specifying the subject of the remark.
Easily confused with commented
"Commenced" means began or started, while "commented" means made a remark or expressed an opinion.