1 A2 neutral
To write something in full rather than using abbreviations or symbols.
"Write out the number in words rather than using digits."
separable
write out
B1 neutral separable transitive
To write something in full, longhand, or in complete detail; or to remove a character from a TV series or story.
In plain English
To write something completely — all the words, no shortcuts.
What does "write out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To write a cheque, prescription, or other official document completely by hand.
"The doctor wrote out a prescription and handed it to the patient."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To remove a character from a television series or screenplay by writing them out of the story.
"The actor was written out of the show after a salary dispute."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To write something out completely onto paper — relatively transparent.
Actually means
To write something completely — all the words, no shortcuts.
Usage tip
The 'write in full' sense is common in educational settings. The 'remove a character from a show' sense is common in entertainment journalism. Also used for writing a cheque in longhand.
Words that pair with "write out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
cheque name answer character words sentence
How to conjugate "write out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
write out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
writes out
he/she/it
Past simple
wrote out
yesterday
Past participle
written out
have + pp
-ing form
writing out
continuous
Hear "write out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "write out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.