autograph
Americannoun
-
a person's own signature.
He collects autographs of artists.
-
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)
-
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
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Do it Yourself: Words Beginning with "AUTO"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Brown called Rapp the "best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro" and said Rapp asked for her autograph in the lead-up to the fight.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Musicaro had once gotten Cher’s autograph, and loved to tell his children stories of celebrity fares.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Fermin Padilla of Los Angeles got Turner’s autograph on a jacket, cap and jersey.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
"It's been nice for kids who love rugby to come down and get an autograph."
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
She remembered with affection the girls who had written in her autograph book.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
The band had offered to meet fans and sign autographs, and the teenager held out the T-shirt she was wearing for Leto to sign - maybe on an arm or across her stomach, she explains.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
A colorful character who went viral during the 2024 Open for smoking a cigarette while signing autographs and playing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
There are multiple sequences of Jackson with kids, visiting children’s hospitals and frequenting toy stores to sign autographs until his hands are sore.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
One might cite—this book does not—the case of the down-on-her-luck biographer Lee Israel, who forged letters and autographs of the famous until she was caught.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
He looked kind of bashful, but he was signing autographs on armor, shields, and T-shirts.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
A museum on the grounds features a jersey autographed by the 2006 squad and a replica of the Golden Soccer Boot donated by famed striker Hugo Sánchez.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
Also included is a signed copy of Morrison Hotel, which has been autographed by all four members.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 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
Car sales soared when Southern dealers gave autographed replicas of Pusser’s club to buyers.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2025
His mom, my grandmother, had an autographed picture of Roy and Trigger she’d kept since she was a little girl.
From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn
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
After an hour of handshakes and autographing t-shirts, Mr. Walker’s tour bus remained in the parking lot in Brunswick so he could sign even more items for his fans.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 16, 2022
While autographing golf balls for the crowd after Saturday’s round, he discovered that he had a different brand of golf ball in his bag and didn’t know how it got there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2019
The downsides: wrist soreness from autographing copies, bruised egos if the title plummets on Amazon.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 29, 2018
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.
