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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

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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

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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

"The door is always open for younger players to overtake and make their mark," he added.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey paid tribute to Rockefeller's decades of service, saying he had left "a lasting mark on the lives of generations of West Virginians."

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Sunday’s game will mark the first time that Garrett and defensive lineman Aaron Donald will play together.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

The observatory helped astronomers investigate active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, stars that produce powerful X-ray flares, and supernovae, the enormous explosions that mark the deaths of certain stars.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

Miss Mortimer gave her a quizzical look, and the speechless Mrs. Apple drew a question mark in the air with her fingertip as a way of asking if everything was all right.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

DoorDash also has a record of buying well-run assets and running them even better, according to Mark Mahaney, equity analyst at Evercore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2026

Sir Mark said that what he heard reported from the trial was "very close to victim blaming".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Mark Walter and his representatives have said multiple times the Dodgers won’t be sold, but he also said that about his stake in the Cadillac Formula One team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Fundstrat’s Mark Newton, meanwhile, thinks a sharp rebound could happen as soon as Friday, or Monday.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

Mark reached down and gently brushed Ampai's hair off her face.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

But when Bacon went to make these marks, there was no turning back—his technique meant that any errant or misplaced additions were irreversible and the work would be ruined.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Its re-entry marks the end of a mission that greatly exceeded its planned lifespan and helped transform scientists' understanding of some of the universe's most energetic phenomena.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

“Today marks the start of a new day in healthcare and a transformative moment for our company and our industry,” CVS Health President and Chief Executive Officer Larry J. Merlo boasted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Data-center construction will, at the very least, become more expensive and complicated so the bottlenecks trade in power and chips has more question marks placed beside it, said the research firm’s report.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

Thanks to his fascination with plastic, something I discovered when the shower curtain was riddled with tiny bite marks, my bedroom now had the honor of housing his litter box.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

On Sunday, as Azerbaijan marked Victory Day commemorating a 2020 war with Armenia, Erdogan arrived in the country's Fuzuli district, which Baku recaptured from Armenian forces six years ago.

From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2026

It marked the second section title in three seasons for the Jackrabbits, who won the Division 3 title in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026

However, it marked a deceleration from the 144% sequential growth in the second quarter.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 7, 2026

England hooker Jamie George says the squad are "really upset" by a newspaper article claiming the end of their summer tour was marked by player unrest over head coach Steve Borthwick's leadership.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

“This is unbelievable. It is an Adinkra symbol, the language of the Old Gods. You are marked with the sign of Asase Yaa. Your very body betrays you!”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

They also want to end the war in Iran, which they link to petrol prices averaging $4.18 a gallon, marking an increase of nearly 40%.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Key details: The transportation sector generated 39,000 new jobs, marking the biggest increase in almost two years.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

"The latest statement uses the issue as an opportunity to condemn the entire US policy of pressure against North Korea, marking a shift from defence to offence," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

The Bank of Canada increased its policy rate to 2.5% last week, marking the first boost in over three years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Before he put the pony in the trailer, Nancy showed him the paint marking on Buttons's hoof.

From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene

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Related Words

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

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