annotate

verb

an·​no·​tate ˈa-nə-ˌtāt 

annotated; annotating

intransitive verb

: to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment

transitive verb

: to make or furnish annotations (see annotation sense 1) for (something, such as a literary work or subject)

annotated his translation of Dante's Divine Comedy

annotative

ˈa-nə-ˌtā-tiv 

adjective

annotator

ˈa-nə-ˌtā-tər 

noun

Examples of annotate in a Sentence

He annotated the text at several places.

Recent Examples on the Web

Readers can annotate, add notes, look up words and sync across all their devices. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025

Questlove and editor Joshua L. Pearson visually annotate every major marker of Sly and the Family Stone’s brief, enormous career, which was very well documented. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025

Finally the stock broke the resistance level on the 3rd above-average volume day on January 21st annotated in black. —Todd Gordon, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025

This annotated bibliography introduces readers to scholarship in the field. —JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin annotatus, past participle of annotare, from ad- + notare to mark — more at note

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

annotate

verb

an·​no·​tate ˈan-ə-ˌtāt 

annotated; annotating

: to make or add explanatory notes

annotator

-ˌtāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

annotate

verb

an·​no·​tate ˈa-nə-ˌtāt 

annotated; annotating

intransitive verb

: to make or write an annotation

transitive verb

: to make or write annotations for

annotator

-ˌtā-tər 

noun