To remark means to say something, especially when you notice or observe something worth mentioning. When you remark on how tall your friend has grown over the summer, you're pointing out something you've noticed. When a teacher remarks that the class did well on a test, she's making an observation out loud.

The word suggests a casual, spontaneous comment rather than a formal speech or planned statement. You might remark that the cafeteria pizza tastes better than usual, or your dad might remark that traffic seems lighter today. These are observations that pop into your head and come out naturally.

As a noun, a remark is the comment itself. If someone makes an unkind remark about your haircut, they've said something mean. A casual remark is an offhand comment that doesn't carry much weight. Sometimes people say “no offense” before making a critical remark, trying to soften the blow.