1 B1 neutral
To send a written letter or message to a broadcaster, newspaper, or organization to express an opinion or make a request.
"Hundreds of listeners wrote in to complain about the presenter's comments."
inseparable
write in
B1 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To send a letter or message to an organization, publication, or broadcaster; or to vote for an unlisted candidate by writing their name.
In plain English
To send a letter or message to a TV show, newspaper, or official group to say what you think.
What does "write in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To vote for a candidate who is not on the official ballot by writing their name on the ballot paper.
"Thousands of voters wrote in Mickey Mouse as a protest against the official candidates."
separable
3 A2 neutral
To add something by writing it into a blank space in a document or form.
"Please write in your date of birth at the top of the application form."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To write something into a space or send writing inward to an organization.
Actually means
To send a letter or message to a TV show, newspaper, or official group to say what you think.
Usage tip
The 'contact a broadcaster/publication' sense is common in British and American English. The 'write-in candidate' sense is specifically American political vocabulary. Also used to mean adding text or data into a pre-existing form or document.
Words that pair with "write in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
show station newspaper candidate form vote
How to conjugate "write in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
write in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
writes in
he/she/it
Past simple
wrote in
yesterday
Past participle
written in
have + pp
-ing form
writing in
continuous
Hear "write in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "write in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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