autograph
Americannoun
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autographs
plural
-
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
Shoot, the biggest and ugliest dude in there was probably begging for Ali's autograph.
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
England scrum-half Natasha Hunt says it is no longer possible to satisfy fans' post-match requests for selfies and autographs, given the Red Roses' success and growth over the past decade.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 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
Three players from the local college recognize Dad and ask him for autographs “for our parents.”
From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander
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
Also included is a signed copy of Morrison Hotel, which has been autographed by all four members.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026
The cards sold that day included a 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Jordan-Bryant card for $3,172,000 — this one was not autographed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2025
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
All over the walls were framed, autographed photographs of major league stars, and also some political and show business celebrities who would come there to eat, bringing friends.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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
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
“Keep driving it hard, man,” he told one group after autographing their Clippers flag, sounding like that high school kid cheering his teammates up The Hill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2022
Celebrated collegians could make money not only by endorsing sneakers and sports drinks, but also by autographing jerseys, pitching workout videos and putting their name on baseball bats and hockey sticks.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 11, 2019
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
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.
