remark
B2Neutral to formal. More formal than 'comment' or 'say'.
Definition
Meaning
To say or write something as a comment or observation.
A thing said or written as a comment; an observation. Also, the quality of being worthy of notice or attention.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it suggests a considered or brief observation. As a verb, it can imply that a comment is made in reaction to something observed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use noun and verb forms identically.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties compared to 'comment'.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English corpora, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He remarked that it was late.She remarked on the beautiful weather.A remark was made about the delay.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a throwaway remark”
- “tart/pithy remark”
- “state/stage-manage your remarks”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meeting minutes or reports: 'The chairman's opening remarks set a positive tone.'
Academic
Used in critiques or analysis: 'The critic's remark sparked considerable debate in the field.'
Everyday
Used in conversation about something noticed: 'He remarked how tall the children had grown.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts; more common in meta-discussion about statements.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Lovely garden,' she remarked, peering over the fence.
- I must remark upon the excellent organisation of the event.
American English
- 'That's a big truck,' he remarked as it drove by.
- The senator remarked that the bill needed further review.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'remark' has no direct adverb form. 'Remarkably' is the adverb from 'remarkable'.
- The performance was remarkably good.
American English
- N/A - 'remark' is not used as an adverb.
- She was remarkably calm under pressure.
adjective
British English
- The adjective 'remarkable' is related, meaning worthy of remark.
- N/A - 'remark' is not used as an adjective.
American English
- The related adjective is 'remarkable'.
- N/A - 'remark' is not an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It was just a friendly remark.
- He made a funny remark.
- She remarked that the coffee was cold.
- His remark about the weather started a conversation.
- The minister's off-the-cuff remark was reported in all the newspapers.
- Several critics have remarked upon the film's historical inaccuracies.
- The essay is peppered with acerbic remarks on the state of contemporary politics.
- It is a city remarkable more for its energy than its beauty, as many have remarked.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: re-MARK. You 'mark' something a second time with words, making a verbal mark or comment on it.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMENTS ARE OBJECTS (make a remark, throw away a remark). OBSERVING IS POINTING (remark on/upon something).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'remark' for every instance of 'замечание'. In Russian, 'замечание' can be a critical note or rebuke, whereas 'remark' is more neutral.
- Do not confuse with 'notice' ('уведомление'). 'Remark' is a comment, not an official announcement.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She remarked me that...' Correct: 'She remarked to me that...' or 'She remarked that...'
- Incorrect: 'He did a remark.' Correct: 'He made a remark.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the LEAST likely meaning of the noun 'remark'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans slightly more formal than 'say' or 'comment'. It is perfectly acceptable in everyday speech but is also common in written and formal contexts.
The most common are 'on' and 'upon' (to comment about a topic), or 'that' to introduce a clause. Less commonly, 'to' can be used to indicate the listener (e.g., 'He remarked to the manager').
They are very close synonyms. 'Remark' often suggests a comment made casually or spontaneously based on observation. 'Comment' can be more deliberate and is the more common, all-purpose word. 'Remark' can sound slightly more refined.
Yes, 'remarks' is common, especially for a series of comments or a short speech (e.g., 'opening remarks', 'concluding remarks').