sign
Americannoun
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an indication or piece of evidence.
The smoke curling from the chimney was a sign that someone was in the cabin.
- Synonyms:
- signal , suggestion , hint , trace
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any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that is taken as conveying a meaning.
I took her silence and fidgeting as a sign of disagreement.
Rising sales of disaster survival kits are a sign of the times.
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a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
The dollar sign ($) can be found on your keyboard above the numeral 4.
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a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc..
Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.
- Synonyms:
- signal
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a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view.
a traffic sign;
a store sign.
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a trace; vestige.
I looked in my car for your glasses, but there was no sign of them.
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an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc..
Notice the repeat sign at the end of that bar.
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Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.
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any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.
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an omen; portent.
The general unrest was a sign of the approaching revolution.
- Synonyms:
- augury , hint , indication
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Usually signs. traces, such as footprints or scat, of a wild animal.
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Mathematics.
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a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
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a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
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a symbol, such as or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.
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Semiotics. a symbol, object, or action together with the meaning given to it.
verb (used with object)
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to affix a signature to.
to sign a letter.
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to write as a signature.
to sign one's name.
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to engage or hire by a written agreement.
to sign a new player.
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to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross.
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to communicate by means of a sign; signal.
He signed his wish to leave by an impatient wave of his hand.
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to convey (a message) in a sign language.
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Obsolete. to direct or appoint by a sign.
verb (used without object)
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to write one's signature as an expression of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc..
Someone will have to be here to sign for the package.
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to communicate by a gesture or signal.
He signed to her to go away.
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to employ a sign language for communication.
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to indicate one’s acceptance of a contract by a signature.
He signed with another team for the next season.
verb phrase
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sign off
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to indicate one's approval.
The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.
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to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.
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to withdraw from a responsibility or connection.
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Informal. to end a conversation, especially on the phone or online.
It's been good talking to you—I'm going to sign off and get back to work.
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sign in
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to record or authorize one's arrival by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
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Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information.
Go to the Members page and sign in with your username and password.
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sign on
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to engage (a worker, client, etc.) by a contract.
We’ve signed on three new retailers to distribute the product.
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to commit oneself to a job or other activity by signing a contract.
He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.
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to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
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Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information.
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to express agreement or cooperation.
It looks like both party leaders have signed on to the interest group's agenda.
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sign away / over to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document.
She signed over her fortune to the church.
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sign up to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe.
to sign up for the navy;
to sign up for a class.
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sign out
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to record or authorize one’s departure by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
Residents of the halfway house must sign out at the office when leaving.
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to record that one is borrowing (a tool, file, book, etc.) by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
We can sign out one of the canoes for a few hours and go exploring.
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Digital Technology. to log out of an account on a device or website.
If using a library computer, be sure to sign out at the end of your session.
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noun
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something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable
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an action or gesture intended to convey information, a command, etc
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a board, placard, etc, displayed in public and inscribed with words or designs intended to inform, warn, etc
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( as modifier )
a sign painter
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an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc
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maths logic
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any symbol indicating an operation
a plus sign
an implication sign
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the positivity or negativity of a number, quantity, or expression
subtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression
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an indication or vestige
the house showed no signs of being occupied
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a portentous or significant event
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an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal
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med any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder Compare symptom
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astrology Compare sign of the zodiac
verb
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to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc
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to make a sign; signal
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to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc
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(tr) to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross
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(tr) to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken
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(intr) to use sign language
Related Words
Sign, omen, portent name that which gives evidence of a future event. Sign is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event—past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An omen is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. Portent, limited, like omen, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.
Other Word Forms
- postsign verb (used with object)
- signable adjective
- signless adjective
- signlike adjective
- unsigned adjective
Etymology
Origin of sign
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun signe, sign, from Old French and Latin signum “mark, sign, ensign, signal, image”; verb ultimately from the noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms Potter - who is retiring from her role next year - is said in the new claim to have signed off on the statement.
From BBC
Wagner, who had signed a contract over the summer that runs through 2028, expressed disappointment at the decision in a statement announcing his departure "by mutual agreement".
From Barron's
The head of the Norwegian Road Federation told AFP that "there is no sign of 'Tesla shame' in Norway."
From Barron's
New orders are a sign of future production, and they have been hovering near the lowest levels in 15 years.
From MarketWatch
It follows the "Kensington Treaty" signed this summer between the UK and Germany, which included closer co-operation on defence and plans for easier travel between the two countries, including a direct rail link.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
