autograph
Americannoun
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autographs
plural
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a person's own signature.
He collects autographs of artists.
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something written in a person's own hand, as a manuscript or letter.
adjective
-
written by a person's own hand.
an autograph letter.
-
containing autographs.
an autograph album.
verb (used with object)
-
autographs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
autographed,
past participle, past
-
autographing
present participle
-
to write one's name on or in; sign.
to autograph a book.
-
to write with one's own hand.
noun
-
-
a handwritten signature, esp that of a famous person
-
( as modifier )
an autograph album
-
-
a person's handwriting
-
-
a book, document, etc, handwritten by its author; original manuscript; holograph
-
( as modifier )
an autograph letter
-
verb
-
to write one's signature on or in; sign
-
to write with one's own hand
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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autographsimple
-
autographssimple
-
have autographedperfect
-
has autographedperfect
-
am autographingprogressive
-
are autographingprogressive
-
is autographingprogressive
-
have been autographingperfect progressive
-
has been autographingperfect progressive
Past
-
autographedsimple
-
had autographedperfect
-
was autographingprogressive
-
were autographingprogressive
-
had been autographingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of autograph
1630–40; < Latin autographum, noun use of neuter of Latin autographus written with one's own hand < Greek autógraphos. See auto- 1, -graph
Explanation
If you sign your name on something, you autograph it. You have to autograph a check before it can be cashed. An autograph is a signature. Famous people are asked for their autographs all the time, but you might be surprised and flattered if a little girl asked for yours after you played Dorothy in your community theater production of "The Wizard of Oz." An original manuscript or musical composition written in the handwriting of the author or composer is also called an autograph. In 1938, the Museum of Modern Art displayed an autograph of Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer."
Vocabulary lists containing autograph
Write On!: Graph and Gram
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To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
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Do it Yourself: Words Beginning with "AUTO"
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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:
"It's autograph history -- not just from a book, but from what they were actually writing."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
He told me his Bitcoin origin story, which was occasionally interrupted by young boys asking him for an autograph.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
"There were four Led Zeppelin autographs and a Jim Morrison autograph," Vadym said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
"It filled my heart because we were getting ready for war, yet she was still asking for my autograph," said Brown.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
“The enemy\ Honestly — who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who’s got a model of him up in their dormitory?”
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
He has been known to attract crowds of adoring fans, competing for autographs or selfies with the 63-year-old who is known for his trademark leather jacket.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
"There were four Led Zeppelin autographs and a Jim Morrison autograph," Vadym said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
And while alumni watched from the sideline, the Bruins connected with youth football players on the field during, incorporating them into stretches, signing autographs and taking pictures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
He was signing autographs and handing out football cards showing him, as Flash Gordon, wearing legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas’ old number 19.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
He would have signed autographs and posed for pictures if anyone had asked.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
The museum contains a variety of pieces ranging from autographed photos and signatures of prominent people in space flight to parts of actual space craft.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
He sent me a framed and autographed plaque of his 1993 Cy Young Award.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
A dual Logoman Kobe-Jordan autographed card that my syndicate bought for $12.93 million last August is now worth $21 million.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Bell signed on with Klutch Sports, the agency of NFL stars including Odell Beckham Jr. and Jalen Hurts, and inked a deal with Leaf Trading Cards for a series of autographed cards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
Not having any idea what it might contain, I opened it and, to my amazement, found an autographed photograph of Dr. Wernher von Braun with a personal note in his own handwriting.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
He professed a hatred for “literary life” while participating in most of its rituals, from autographing to prize-giving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025
A few hours later, however, he was warmly mingling at a gathering of 7,000 children from 84 countries, fielding their questions, shaking hands and autographing caps and a sports jersey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2025
“I’ll also be doing Zoom calls, one-on-one meetings, autographing memorabilia and so much more,” Mr. Trump says in the video.
From New York Times ● Dec. 15, 2022
Sheikh Hamad, viewed as the modernizer of Qatar during his 18 years as ruler, further delighted the crowd by autographing an official World Cup shirt handed to him by his son.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2022
Marcia was Alec's fiancée before he lost his memory, and she recognizes him when he's in this store autographing books.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
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