signal
Americannoun
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anything that serves to indicate, warn, direct, command, or the like, such as a light, a gesture, an act, etc.: a signal to leave.
a traffic signal;
a signal to leave.
- Synonyms:
- sign
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anything agreed upon or understood as the occasion for concerted action.
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an act, event, or the like that causes or incites some action.
The unjust execution was the signal for revolt.
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a token; indication.
- Synonyms:
- sign
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Electronics. an electrical quantity or effect, as current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves, that can be varied in such a way as to convey information.
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Cards. a play that reveals to one's partner a wish that they continue or discontinue the suit led.
adjective
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serving as a token or indication; used in communiating an intention, warning, or command.
a signal flag.
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unusual; notable; outstanding.
a signal exploit.
- Synonyms:
- striking, remarkable, exceptional, unique
verb (used with object)
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to make a token or indication to.
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to communicate or make known by a token or indication.
verb (used without object)
noun
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any sign, gesture, token, etc, that serves to communicate information
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anything that acts as an incitement to action
the rise in prices was a signal for rebellion
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a variable parameter, such as a current or electromagnetic wave, by which information is conveyed through an electronic circuit, communications system, etc
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the information so conveyed
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( as modifier )
signal strength
a signal generator
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adjective
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distinguished or conspicuous
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used to give or act as a signal
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presignalnoun
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signalernoun
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signallernoun
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resignalverb
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unsignaledadjective
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unsignalledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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signalsimple
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signalssimple
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have signaledperfect
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have signalledperfect
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has signaledperfect
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has signalledperfect
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am signalingprogressive
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am signallingprogressive
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are signalingprogressive
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are signallingprogressive
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is signalingprogressive
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is signallingprogressive
-
have been signalingperfect progressive
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have been signallingperfect progressive
-
has been signalingperfect progressive
-
has been signallingperfect progressive
Past
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signaledsimple
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signalledsimple
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had signaledperfect
-
had signalledperfect
-
was signalingprogressive
-
was signallingprogressive
-
were signalingprogressive
-
were signallingprogressive
-
had been signalingperfect progressive
-
had been signallingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of signal
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun from Old French seignal, signal, from Medieval Latin signāle, Late Latin, noun use of neuter of signālis “of a sign”; see sign, -al 2, -al 1
Explanation
A signal is a gesture or message that people use to communicate with each other. The wave you give a good friend to call her over from across the room and the impulse that transmits your voice through the telephone to your mother are both signals. In the course of a single day, you probably send and receive thousands of different signals. When you want to cross the street, you wait for the green light — a signal that it's safe to cross. If you're in a relationship and you're not sure whether you like the person you're dating, you could be sending mixed signals — first acting like you're interested, and then acting uninterested. If your date finally gets tired of your mixed signals while you're at a restaurant, you'll need to signal to your server that it's time for the check.
Vocabulary lists containing signal
Baseball: A Lexicon
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Words for the World Series
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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.
See Examples For:
Hold these puts as long as the weighted put-call ratio for KEY is on a sell signal.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Carns explained he believed to take up the offer of a government role would signal his fight for higher military funding was over, when he intends to keep making that case from the back benches.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
It uses a string of LED lights laid along the track to signal to an athlete the exact rhythm he needs to break a record.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
These functions include signal synchronization, adjustable delay lines, optical buffers, and frequency conversion.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Booth listened to the dialogue of the play for his signal.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
From the chart of the put-call ratio of KEY, one can see that there were two previous sell signals in the past year, and both resulted in a modest decline in the stock price.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
The dual appointments sent mixed signals to business leaders, who view Khan as hostile to corporate interests and Shorris as a trusted ally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Fampridine boosts nerve signals to make it easier for some people to move and live independently.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
To address this problem, the researchers designed a programmable photonic circuit that can control both the speed and shape of optical signals.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
This was before the use of radio signals to plot position, before radar, before satellites.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Orcel said UniCredit is gaining market share as a result, and signaled the bank wouldn’t participate in a transaction in Italy unless it improved the performance of its local business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
With no end in sight, senators from both parties signaled frustrations with the administration’s plans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Even as the fighting intensifies, both sides have signaled openness to diplomacy.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
At the same time, several other Fed officials have signaled support for raising rates.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
He signaled Fangburn to begin the diversionary assault.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson also signalled Monday that diplomatic exchanges with the United States -- via mediators -- were ongoing.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Burnham has signalled that providing extra support for the cost of living will be one of his priorities in government.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
In recent days the Japanese finance minister, Satsuki Katayama, has signalled a possible shift in government pension fund assets towards domestic investment.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
When French referee Clement Turpin signalled the end of an incident-filled quarter-final win in Miami, Thomas Tuchel's exhausted players sank to their knees in celebration after being taken to extra-time by Norway.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
“But that’s enough,” he signalled to the nurse.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
They are naturally occuring in the body, signaling molecules that dictate major physiological processes like tissue repair or metabolism.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer signaling replacement forced-labor tariffs may not be ready in time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Importantly, the below chart shows that prices for leveraged loans have also found their footing around 91 cents on the dollar, signaling improved confidence in the ability of software companies to repay their debts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Although reactive oxygen species play useful roles in normal cell signaling and immune defenses, excessive production can damage tissues and increase oxidative stress.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Anya put her own hands up, palms out and still, signaling for him to stop.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
However, he was later seen going to the practice range, signalling he is likely to stay around for the weekend at Royal Birkdale.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
On the railways alone, he cited train delays, cancellations due to buckled rails, on-board air conditioning failure, cable and signalling meltdown.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Officials have not said whether signalling issues played a role in the collision.
From Barron's ● Jun. 20, 2026
US President Donald Trump promised to visit India during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France, signalling a thawing of relations between the two countries.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Standing up, it’s easier to scan the savannah for game or enemies, and arms that are unnecessary for locomotion are freed for other purposes, like throwing stones or signalling.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
