edit
gb/ˈɛdɪt/ us/ˈɛdɪt/
B1
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Make changes to text or media
To change and improve writing, pictures, or videos before they are published or shown.
Usage pattern:
to edit [a document/video/photo]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'edit' with 'write'; editing means changing something already created, not creating it from scratch.
Synonyms
revise (Often used for making corrections or updates to text, especially in academic or work contexts.)
|
modify (More general term for making changes; not limited to media or text.)
Antonyms
leave unchanged (Indicates not making any changes or corrections.)
Collocations
edit a document
|edit a video
|edit photos
|edit an article
|edit footage
Themes
media
|communication
|work
|technology
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She spent the afternoon editing her novel before sending it to the publisher.
- The director is still editing the final scene of the movie.
- I need to edit these photos before uploading them online.
- He edits the company's monthly newsletter.
- They edited the interview to remove personal details.
Learner examples
- I will edit my story before I show it to my teacher.
- She edits photos on her phone.
- He edits videos for his YouTube channel.
- We edit the report together.
- Please edit your email before you send it.
Verb
B2
action
2
Be in charge of a publication's content
To be in charge of what goes into a newspaper, magazine, or book.
Usage pattern:
to edit [a newspaper/magazine/book]
Synonyms
run (Informal for being in charge of something; broader than just publications.)
|
oversee (General term for managing something, not specific to publications.)
Antonyms
contribute (To provide content rather than manage it.)
Collocations
edit a newspaper
|edit a magazine
|edit an anthology
Themes
media
|work
|business
|communication
Examples
- She edits one of the country's leading fashion magazines.
- He was hired to edit an anthology of short stories.
- They asked her to edit the local newspaper for three months.
Learner examples
- He edits a sports magazine.
- She edits a small newspaper in town.
- My aunt edits many books each year.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Revised version of material
A changed version of a text, film, or recording.
Synonyms
revision (Focuses on the act or result of revising, especially in writing.)
Antonyms
original (The first version before any changes were made.)
Collocations
final edit
|rough edit
|director's edit
Themes
media
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The final edit of the film will be released next week.
- This is just a rough edit; there will be more changes later.
- He sent me the latest edit of the report.
Learner examples
- This is the final edit of my story.
- I saw the new edit of the movie.
- She sent me an edit of the letter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
edit
IPA
GB/ˈɛdɪt/
US/ˈɛdɪt/
Syllables & stress
edit (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (edit)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: edit
- 3rd Person Singular: edits
- Present Participle: editing
- Past: edited
Word family
Expressions
edit down
1/ˈɛdɪt dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Shorten material while editing
To make something shorter by taking parts out when editing it.
Examples
- The speech was edited down to fit into two minutes.
- They edited down the article for the newsletter.
edit out
1/ˈɛdɪt ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Remove part during editing
To take out part of something when you are editing it.
Examples
- They edited out several minutes of the interview to save time.
- The swear words were edited out before broadcast.
self-edit
1/sˈɛlf ˈɛdɪt/
fixed phrase
Review and change your own work
To check and change your own writing or work before it is finished.
Examples
- It's important to self-edit before submitting your essay.
- She always self-edits her reports before sending them to her boss.