1 publish | Definition of publish

publish

verb
pub·​lish | \ ˈpə-blish How to pronounce publish (audio) \
published; publishing; publishes

Definition of publish

transitive verb

1a : to make generally known
b : to make public announcement of
2a : to disseminate to the public
b : to produce or release for distribution specifically : print sense 2c
c : to issue the work of (an author)

intransitive verb

1 : to put out an edition
2 : to have one's work accepted for publication

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Other Words from publish

publishable \ ˈpə-​bli-​shə-​bəl How to pronounce publishable (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms for publish

Synonyms

get out, issue, print, put out

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Examples of publish in a Sentence

It's a small company that only publishes about four books a year. The university press publishes academic titles.
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Recent Examples on the Web

Hudson said during a candid Grazia interview, published in August. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Kate Hudson's Son Ryder, 15, Jokingly Calls Her Out for Posting Family Video: 'You Didn't Ask Me'," 8 Sep. 2019 The studies, both published in JAMA Network Open, looked at liver and kidney transplants, the two most common transplant procedures. — Erin Allday, SFChronicle.com, "Major shortcomings in organ transplant network flagged in UCSF, Columbia studies," 7 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'publish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of publish

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology for publish

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French publier, from Latin publicare, from publicus public

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More Definitions for publish

publish

verb

English Language Learners Definition of publish

: to prepare and produce (a book, magazine, etc.) for sale
: to have something you wrote included in a book, magazine, newspaper, etc.
: to include (an article, letter, photograph, etc.) in a magazine or newspaper

publish

verb
pub·​lish | \ ˈpə-blish How to pronounce publish (audio) \
published; publishing

Kids Definition of publish

1 : to bring printed works (as books) before the public usually for sale
2 : to print (as in a magazine or newspaper) The newspaper published her article on dogs.
3 : to make widely known

Other Words from publish

publisher noun

publish

transitive verb
pub·​lish

Legal Definition of publish

1 : to make known to another or to the public generally

Note: For purposes of defamation, a defamatory communication made to only one third party may be considered published.

2a : to proclaim officially publish an enactment
b : to declare (a will) to be a true and valid expression of one's last will
c : to reproduce (an opinion) in a reporter
3a : to disseminate to the public or provide notice of to the public or to an individual (as through a mass medium) ordered to publish the citation in the legal notices for three weeks — see also notice by publication at notice
b : to distribute or offer for distribution to the public copies of (a copyrightable work) by some transfer of ownership, rental, lease, or loan
4 : utter
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