register

American  

[rej-uh-ster] / ˈrɛdʒ ə stər /

noun

• registers
  plural

1. a book in which records of acts, events, names, etc., are kept.

   Synonyms:

   archive, ledger, record

2. a list or record of such acts, events, etc.

   Synonyms:

   annals, schedule, chronicle, catalog, roster, roll

3. an entry in such a book, record, or list.

4. an official document issued to a merchant ship as evidence of its nationality.

5. registration or registry.

6. a mechanical device by which certain data are automatically recorded.

7. cash register.

8. Music.

   1. the compass or range of a voice or an instrument.

   2. a part of this range produced in the same way and having the same quality.

      the head register;

      the upper register of the clarinet.

   3. (in an organ) a stop.

9. a device for controlling the flow of warmed air or the like through an opening, as from a duct to an interior, composed of a number of narrow, parallel blades, usually behind a grating, that may be adjusted so as to overlap and close the opening.

10. Photography. proper relationship between two plane surfaces in photography, as corresponding plates in photoengraving.

11. Printing.

    1. a precise adjustment or correspondence, as of lines, columns, etc., especially on the two sides of a leaf.

    2. correct relation or exact superimposition, as of colors in color printing.

12. a bookmark, especially a ribbon attached to the spine of a book.

13. Linguistics. a variety of language typically used in a specific type of communicative setting.

    an informal register;

    the register of scientific discourse.

14. Computers. a high-speed storage location in the CPU, used to store a related string of bits, as a word or phrase.

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verb (used with object)

• registers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• registered,
  past participle,  past
• registering
  present participle

1. to enter or cause to be entered formally in a register.

   Synonyms:

   chronicle, catalog, record, list, enroll

2. to cause (mail) to be recorded upon delivery to a post office for safeguarding against loss, theft, damage, etc., during transmission.

3. to enroll (a student, voter, etc.) in a school or course of study, on the voting rolls, etc.

4. to indicate by a record, as instruments do.

   The thermometer registered 102 degrees today.

5. to indicate or show, as on a scale.

6. Printing. to adjust so as to secure exact correspondence; cause to be in register.

7. Military. to adjust (fire) on a known point.

8. to show (surprise, joy, anger, etc.), as by facial expression or by actions.

   Synonyms:

   evince, demonstrate

9. to document (a merchant ship engaged in foreign trade) by issuing a certificate of registry.

verb (used without object)

• registers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• registered,
  past participle,  past
• registering
  present participle

1. to enter one's name or cause it to be entered in a register; enroll.

   to register at a motel.

2. to apply for and obtain inclusion of one's name on the list of voters.

3. to enroll in a school or course of study.

   I've registered for three English classes.

4. Printing. to be in register.

5. to show.

   A broad smile registered on his face.

6. to have some effect; make some impression.

   My plea didn't register on him at all.

register British  

/ ˈrɛdʒɪstə /

noun

1. an official or formal list recording names, events, or transactions

2. the book in which such a list is written

3. an entry in such a list

4. a recording device that accumulates data, totals sums of money, etc

   a cash register

5. a movable plate that controls the flow of air into a furnace, chimney, room, etc

6. computing one of a set of word-sized locations in the central processing unit in which items of data are placed temporarily before they are operated on by program instructions

7. music

   1. the timbre characteristic of a certain manner of voice production See head voice chest voice

   2. any of the stops on an organ as classified in respect of its tonal quality

      the flute register

8. printing

   1. the correct alignment of the separate plates in colour printing

   2. the exact correspondence of lines of type, columns, etc, on the two sides of a printed sheet of paper

9. a form of a language associated with a particular social situation or subject matter, such as obscene slang, legal language, or journalese

10. the act or an instance of registering

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verb

1. (tr) to enter or cause someone to enter (an event, person's name, ownership, etc) on a register; formally record

2. to show or be shown on a scale or other measuring instrument

   the current didn't register on the meter

3. to show or be shown in a person's face, bearing, etc

   his face registered surprise

4. (intr) to have an effect; make an impression

   the news of her uncle's death just did not register

5. to send (a letter, package, etc) by registered post

6. (tr) printing to adjust (a printing press, forme, etc) to ensure that the printed matter is in register

7. (of a mechanical part) to align (with another part)

8. military to bring (a gun) to bear on its target by adjustment according to the accuracy of observed single rounds

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• registerer
  noun
• registrability
  noun
• misregister
  verb
• reregister
  verb
• preregister
  verb (used with or without object)
• nonregistrable
  adjective
• registerable
  adjective
• registrable
  adjective
• unregistrable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• registers
  plural

Participles

• registering
  present
• registered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• register
  simple
• registers
  simple
• have registered
  perfect
• has registered
  perfect
• am registering
  progressive
• are registering
  progressive
• is registering
  progressive
• have been registering
  perfect progressive
• has been registering
  perfect progressive

Past

• registered
  simple
• had registered
  perfect
• was registering
  progressive
• were registering
  progressive
• had been registering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will register
  simple
• will have registered
  perfect
• will be registering
  progressive
• will have been registering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of register

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the noun) Middle English registre, from Middle French, Old French, from Medieval Latin regestrum, registrum, alteration of Late Latin regesta “catalog, list,” noun use of neuter plural of Latin regestus “carried back, collected,” past participle of regerere “to carry back, pile up, collect,” from re- re- + gerere “to carry, conduct, display”; (for the verb) Middle English registren, from Middle French registrer, from Medieval Latin registrāre, derivative of regestrum, registrum

Explanation

Register has several meanings, but one of the most common is to write down or record officially. Like registering your car with the DMV and registering for classes at the beginning of a semester. Someone needs to register all the ways you can use the word register: As a noun it means the actual book that you record things in. But a register is also the range of sound your voice can make, and that thing the checkout lady uses to ring up your grocery bill. As a verb, register means to mark down officially or sign up, but also to show emotion: if cats and dogs rain from the sky, your face will likely register a look of disbelief.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

register registers registered registering

A lot of famous faces also pop up along the way—it’s casting as namedropping, Hollywood’s favorite pastime—but few of them register as fleshed-out characters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

We did, however, register a website for our new school ventures, ProPublicaAcademy.com, and even designed some fun pencils to show our school spirit.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

I have a friend who works the cash register at a supermarket, and she told me that she dreads the holidays.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

If you’ve become a U.S. citizen less than 15 days before the election, you still may be able to register and vote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

My eyes open wide as they consume me, the wonder of it so enthralling that I barely register the pain until it’s too late.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Mr. Costanzo, 44, is comfortable in the alto, mezzo and even the soprano registers, with rare beauty and presence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart has enlisted Lady Gaga for a recruitment campaign, convincing the pop icon to trade vocal registers for cash registers in an effort to plug staffing shortages at thousands of outlets.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Ipsos puts its standing as high as 28%, external, while YouGov registers a more modest 23%, external.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

But 9/11 barely registers with Muslims he counsels.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

“My dear Dr. Calvin,” rumbled the general, his voice sinking into the lower baritone registers.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Another scheme is from British startup Books By People, which this week announced its certification mark for human-authored works had been registered by the country's intellectual property office.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Katie Whitson, a registered dietician at Health Loft, said that for those who come to see her with concerns about their cortisol, instead of taking tests, she recommends tracking their daily routines.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

About 70 people have already registered and current GB player Conway welcomes the competition.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

The Institute said it tested upward of 4,000 prompts on accounts registered to 13- to 17-year-olds, including tests before and after the release of ChatGPT for Teens in August.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

For his first round, Bobby was paired to play white against a Canadian player who’d registered in advance and paid his entry fee but was nowhere in sight.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

And instead of registering immediately, the hot honey left a gentle warmth at the back of each bite.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

On Wednesday, payroll firm ADP reported that US private sector hiring had bounced back strongly in September, after registering its slowest pace this year the month before.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

However, this summer tested their tolerance of heat, with the country registering a record-breaking 61 days of heatwaves that continued into early September.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

More affordable EVs once seen as Tesla challengers that could appeal to the masses are hardly registering in sales data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

"I have to tell you, man, that my stalker meter is kind of registering in the red zone right now."

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan

Related Words

• enroll
• file
• join
• list
• record
• sign up