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• mark
  mark

  noun

  a visible impression or trace on something, such as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise.
• Mark
  Mark

  noun

  one of the four Evangelists: traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel.

mark

¹ American  

[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

1. a visible impression or trace on something, such as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise.

   The dye left a small mark on his arm.

2. a badge, brand, or other visible sign assumed or imposed.

   He carried the banner as a mark of his noble rank.

3. a symbol used in writing or printing.

   a punctuation mark.

4. a sign, usually an X or cross, made instead of a signature by someone who does not know how or is unable to write their own name.

5. an affixed or impressed device, symbol, inscription, etc., serving to give information, identify, indicate origin or ownership, attest to character or comparative merit, or the like, as a trademark.

6. a sign, token, or indication.

   The ambassador should bow as a mark of respect when meeting the queen.

7. a symbol used in rating conduct, proficiency, attainment, etc., as of students in a school.

   good marks; bad marks.

8. something serving as an indication of position, as a landmark.

9. a recognized or required standard of quality, accomplishment, etc.; norm.

   His dissertation was below the mark.

10. distinction or importance; repute; note.

    a man of mark.

    Synonyms:

    consequence, eminence

11. a distinctive trait or characteristic.

    the usual marks of a gentleman.

    Synonyms:

    attribute, stamp, feature

12. (usually initial capital letter) a designation for an item of military equipment in production, used in combination with a numeral to indicate the order of adoption, and often abbreviated.

    a Mark-4 tank; an M-1 rifle.

13. an object aimed at; target.

    to aim at the mark.

14. an object or end desired or striven for; goal.

    Synonyms:

    objective, purpose

15. Slang.

    1. an object of derision, scorn, manipulation, or the like.

       He was an easy mark for criticism.

    2. the intended victim of a swindler, hustler, or the like.

       The cardsharps picked their marks from among the tourists on the cruise ship.

16. Track. the starting line.

17. Boxing. the middle of the stomach.

18. Lawn Bowling. jack.

19. Bowling. a strike or spare.

20. Nautical. any of the distinctively marked points on a deep-sea lead line, occurring at levels of 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 20 fathoms above the lead.

21. a tract of land that may have been held in common by a primitive or early medieval community of peasants in Germany.

22. Archaic or History/Historical. a boundary; frontier.

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verb (used with object)

• marks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• marked,
  past participle,  past
• marking
  present participle

1. to be a distinguishing feature of.

   a day marked by rain.

2. to put a mark or marks on.

   to mark each box with an X.

3. to give a grade for; put a grade on.

   to mark the final exams.

4. scent-mark.

5. to furnish with figures, signs, tags, etc., to indicate price, quality, brand name, or the like.

   We marked all the books with prices.

6. to trace or form by or as if by marks (often followed byout ).

   to mark out a plan of attack.

7. to indicate or designate by or as if by marks.

   to mark passages to be memorized.

   Synonyms:

   tag, label, designate

8. to single out; destine (often followed byout ).

   to be marked out for promotion.

9. to record, as a score.

10. to make manifest.

    to mark approval with a nod.

11. to give heed or attention to.

    Mark my words!

12. to notice or observe.

    to mark a change in the weather.

    Synonyms:

    spot, regard, eye

verb (used without object)

• marks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• marked,
  past participle,  past
• marking
  present participle

1. to take notice; give attention; consider.

2. scent-mark.

verb phrase

1. mark up

   1. to mar or deface with marks.

   2. to mark with notations or symbols.

   3. to fix the selling price of (an article) by adding to the seller's cost an amount to cover expenses and profit.

      to mark up dresses 50 percent.

   4. to increase the selling price of.

   5. to make corrections or changes to (written or printed text).

   6. to indicate detailed instructions concerning the format, style, or structure for (a manuscript to be typeset, an electronic document, or a web page).

2. mark off to mark the proper dimensions or boundaries of; separate.

   We marked off the limits of our lot with stakes.

3. mark down to reduce the price of.

   These towels have been marked down.

idioms

1. make one's mark, to attain success or fame; achieve one's ambition.

   He set out to make his mark as a writer.

2. mark time. time.

3. wide of the mark, far from the target or objective; inaccurate or irrelevant.

   My first guess was wide of the mark.

4. bless / save the mark! (used as an exclamation of disapproval, contempt, impatience, etc.) Also God blesssave the mark!

5. on your mark / marks! (in calling the start of a race) take your places: Also get ready!, ready!

   On your mark! Get set! Go!

6. beside the mark, not pertinent; irrelevant.

mark ² American  

[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

1. the monetary unit of Germany from 1871 to 2002, when the euro was adopted: originally a silver coin.

2. the markka of Finland.

3. Also merk a former money of account and silver coin of Scotland, equal to 13s. 4d.

4. a former money of account of England, equal to 13s. 4d.

5. a former coin of Estonia, the 1/100 part of a kroon: replaced by the sent after 1927.

6. a former European unit of weight, especially for gold and silver, generally equal to 8 ounces (249 grams).

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Mark ³ American  

[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

1. one of the four Evangelists: traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel.

2. the second Gospel.

   to read aloud from Mark.

3. Arthurian Legend. King Mark, ruler of Cornwall, husband of Iseult and uncle of Sir Tristram.

4. Saint Mark. Marcus, Saint.

5. a male given name, form of Marcus.

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mark ¹ British  

/ mɑːk /

noun

1. a visible impression, stain, etc, on a surface, such as a spot or scratch

2. a sign, symbol, or other indication that distinguishes something

   an owner's mark

3. a cross or other symbol made instead of a signature

4. a written or printed sign or symbol, as for punctuation

   a question mark

5. a letter, number, or percentage used to grade academic work

6. a thing that indicates position or directs; marker

7. a desired or recognized standard

   he is not up to the mark

8. an indication of some quality, feature, or prowess

   he has the mark of an athlete

9. quality or importance; note

   a person of little mark

10. a target or goal

11. impression or influence

    he left his mark on German literature

12. one of the temperature settings on a gas oven

    gas mark 5

13. (often capital)

    1. model, brand, or type

       the car is a Mark 4

    2. a variation on a particular model

       a Mark 3 Cortina

14. slang a suitable victim, esp for swindling

15. nautical one of the intervals distinctively marked on a sounding lead Compare deep

16. bowls another name for the jack 1

17. rugby Union an action in which a player standing inside his own 22m line catches a forward kick by an opponent and shouts "mark", entitling himself to a free kick

18. Australian rules football a catch of the ball from a kick of at least 10 yards, after which a free kick is taken

19. boxing the middle of the stomach at or above the line made by the boxer's trunks

20. (in medieval England and Germany) a piece of land held in common by the free men of a community

21. an obsolete word for frontier

22. statistics See class mark

23. to succeed or achieve recognition

24. a command given to runners in a race to prepare themselves at the starting line

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verb

1. to make or receive (a visible impression, trace, or stain) on (a surface)

2. (tr) to characterize or distinguish

   his face was marked by anger

3. to set boundaries or limits (on)

   to mark out an area for negotiation

4. (tr) to select, designate, or doom by or as if by a mark

   to mark someone as a criminal

5. (tr) to put identifying or designating labels, stamps, etc, on, esp to indicate price

   to mark the book at one pound

6. (tr) to pay heed or attention to

   mark my words

7. to observe; notice

8. to grade or evaluate (scholastic work)

   she marks fairly

9. sport to stay close to (an opponent) to hamper his or her play

10. to keep (score) in some games

11. 1. to move the feet alternately as in marching but without advancing

    2. to act in a mechanical and routine way

    3. to halt progress temporarily, while awaiting developments

interjection

1. rugby Union the shout given by a player when calling for a mark

mark ² British  

/ mɑːk /

noun

1. See Deutschmark markka Reichsmark Ostmark

2. a former monetary unit and coin in England and Scotland worth two thirds of a pound sterling

3. a silver coin of Germany until 1924

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Mark ³ British  

/ mɑːk /

noun

1. one of the four Evangelists. Feast day: April 25

2. the second Gospel, traditionally ascribed to him

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mark More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing mark

• beside the point (mark)
• black mark
• give bad marks to
• high-water mark
• hit the bull's-eye (mark)
• make one's mark
• off the mark
• quick off the mark
• toe the line (mark)
• up to par (the mark)
• wide of the mark
• x marks the spot

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• marking
  present
• marked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mark
  simple
• marks
  simple
• have marked
  perfect
• has marked
  perfect
• am marking
  progressive
• are marking
  progressive
• is marking
  progressive
• have been marking
  perfect progressive
• has been marking
  perfect progressive

Past

• marked
  simple
• had marked
  perfect
• was marking
  progressive
• were marking
  progressive
• had been marking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mark
  simple
• will have marked
  perfect
• will be marking
  progressive
• will have been marking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mark¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun mark(e), marc(e), marcke, Old English mearc, merc “mark, sign, banner, dividing line, borderland”; cognate with German Mark “borderland, unit of weight,” Old Norse mǫrk “forest (originally, borderland), unit of weight,” Gothic marka “boundary, borderland,” Latin margō “border”; see margin, march ² ( def. )

Origin of mark²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English marc, a unit of weight, from Medieval Latin marca, from Germanic; see mark ¹

Explanation

A mark is some kind of dot, line, or figure that emphasizes or distinguishes something. You might make a mark on your calendar to remind you of your best friend's birthday. There are many kinds of marks, from punctuation — like quotation marks — to spots or scars on skin — "The bee sting left a mark on his cheek." When you mark something, you leave a mark on it, check it off, cross it out, or label it. You can also mark something by noticing or acknowledging it: "Let's mark your birthday with a big party!" Shopkeepers mark prices on goods, and a "mark down" is a reduction in price.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mark Mark marks marked marking

He finished two homers shy of Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62 and shattered Mickey Mantle’s 1961 mark of 54 for the most ever for a switch hitter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Overall, though, Rheinmetall's order backlog kept growing in the second quarter, surpassing the 80 billion euro mark thanks to 11.4 billion euros in new contracts awarded during the quarter.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

The pair have reunited on stage a number of times in recent years and spoke to BBC News ahead of a major concert in Milton Keynes on Friday to mark the album's 30th anniversary.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

He made his biggest mark as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015 and was a strong supporter of post-9/11 surveillance programs.

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

In the center of her palm Jeremy saw a white line that looked exactly like the new mark in his own hand.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

The Met closed the case and Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for the investigation, telling LBC on Thursday that the complaint should have been "screened out earlier on as not requiring investigation".

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Among the biggest holders are insurance companies controlled by Mark Walter, the financial titan who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The two companies reached an agreement in June, but it’s unclear when or if revenue will return to predispute levels, Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz wrote in a Thursday note.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

More than 5,000 entertainment industry workers, including such high-profile stars as Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Bryan Cranston and Mark Ruffalo, signed an open letter early this year, calling on Bonta to thwart the merger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

John Mark grips the steering wheel like he wants to snap it in half.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Friday’s report marks the second straight year that the July report brought substantial negative revisions to previous months’ data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Independent experts in computational biology and biosecurity said the research marks a major achievement in the field.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The three-match series marks England's first Test outing since the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Bite marks preserved in fossil bones can provide rare evidence of how prehistoric animals behaved and interacted within ancient ecosystems.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

She knew as soon as she saw the dark marks streaking across the face of the paper: an earthquake.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

U.K. pay growth has slowed sharply and has now returned to around pre-COVID levels, a marked contrast with economies such as Japan and the eurozone, where wage pressures remain more persistent.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

The fall of Constantinople marked the end of the Roman Empire as well as of a living medieval Roman culture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The loss to Maya Joint marked the younger Williams’ first singles match in almost four years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

"The years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack," he said, adding "there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great".

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

I could practically see the big pirate X that marked the spot—his ill-gotten treasure lay buried right where his dreams were leading him.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Meat prices fell 2.8% in July from a record high in June, marking their first monthly decline of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

In 1976, he became artistic director of Riverside Studios, with his production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It marking the official opening of the Hammersmith-based theatre that year.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Adjusted free cash flow for the quarter was $1.22 billion, marking the first time Palantir has crossed the $1 billion mark.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

South Korea's professional baseball league was also forced to cancel one game in Changwon after the city's temperature climbed to 39.5 degrees Celsius during the day, marking the second consecutive game cancellation in the city.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

A tiny grocery store has produce displayed outside, with faded notes marking the prices.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• impression
• imprint
• line
• point
• record
• scar
• score
• signature
• spot
• stain
• stamp
• streak
• symbol