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

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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

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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

So while sticker prices are rising less quickly than they once did, they still register to many Americans as unacceptably high.

From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026

Rallied by the last-minute message blitz from the mayor, more than 1,500 people tried to register to vote online overwhelming the 1,000-attendee limit of the agency’s Zoom account.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

Entry is free, but anyone wanting to consult the collections has to register and book an appointment in advance because of the nature of the material.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

In an era of great tenors McCormack alone had the superlative breath control, the honeyed sweetness and the ability to float notes at the top of the register with dulcet ease.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Then faster than Scoob can register the movement, his body is leaving the couch and he’s wrapped in Dad’s arms.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

He isn’t particularly political and his creative turmoil barely registers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 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

The new capacity will be close to 10 times the amount that Red Eléctrica currently registers on the Spanish grid.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

In the world of astro-tourists, for whom a partial eclipse barely registers and missing a year feels like an abdication, that makes me an amateur.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

"That registers six points for the Epiphany Team," the commissioner said.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

In another interview Thursday with pro-Trump outlet Real America's Voice, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Asked about her legal background on Thursday, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was then "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move with her husband to China.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Seventy-seven percent of registered voters cast ballots in the largest polling district of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra; 66% voted in the much smaller precinct of Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

She does not appear to be registered to the bar in any state where she has lived.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Her face registered a second of surprise, then crumpled into bawling.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Luxury car buyers in California and other states wanting their fancy ride for less money are registering their vehicles in Montana, which has no sales or personal property tax.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Scottish visitors can get into the historic cathedral for free by registering online and providing proof of residency, while visitors who live elsewhere in the UK or abroad will need to pay for tickets.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

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

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 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

There are two more counselors at the front, registering people.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

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Related Words

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

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