sign
Americannoun
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signs
plural
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an indication or piece of evidence.
The smoke curling from the chimney was a sign that someone was in the cabin.
- Synonyms:
- signal, suggestion, hint, trace
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any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that is taken as conveying a meaning.
I took her silence and fidgeting as a sign of disagreement.
Rising sales of disaster survival kits are a sign of the times.
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a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
The dollar sign ($) can be found on your keyboard above the numeral 4.
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a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc..
Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.
- Synonyms:
- signal
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a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view.
a traffic sign;
a store sign.
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a trace; vestige.
I looked in my car for your glasses, but there was no sign of them.
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an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc..
Notice the repeat sign at the end of that bar.
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Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.
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any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.
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an omen; portent.
The general unrest was a sign of the approaching revolution.
- Synonyms:
- augury, hint, indication
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Usually signs. traces, such as footprints or scat, of a wild animal.
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Mathematics.
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a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
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a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
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a symbol, such as or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.
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Semiotics. a symbol, object, or action together with the meaning given to it.
verb (used with object)
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signs,
present (3rd person singular)
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signed,
past participle, past
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signing
present participle
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to affix a signature to.
to sign a letter.
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to write as a signature.
to sign one's name.
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to engage or hire by a written agreement.
to sign a new player.
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to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross.
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to communicate by means of a sign; signal.
He signed his wish to leave by an impatient wave of his hand.
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to convey (a message) in a sign language.
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Obsolete. to direct or appoint by a sign.
verb (used without object)
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signs,
present (3rd person singular)
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signed,
past participle, past
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signing
present participle
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to write one's signature as an expression of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc..
Someone will have to be here to sign for the package.
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to communicate by a gesture or signal.
He signed to her to go away.
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to employ a sign language for communication.
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to indicate one’s acceptance of a contract by a signature.
He signed with another team for the next season.
verb phrase
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sign off
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to indicate one's approval.
The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.
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to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.
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to withdraw from a responsibility or connection.
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Informal. to end a conversation, especially on the phone or online.
It's been good talking to you—I'm going to sign off and get back to work.
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sign in
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to record or authorize one's arrival by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
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Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information.
Go to the Members page and sign in with your username and password.
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sign on
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to engage (a worker, client, etc.) by a contract.
We’ve signed on three new retailers to distribute the product.
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to commit oneself to a job or other activity by signing a contract.
He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.
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to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
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Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information.
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to express agreement or cooperation.
It looks like both party leaders have signed on to the interest group's agenda.
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sign away / over to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document.
She signed over her fortune to the church.
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sign up to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe.
to sign up for the navy;
to sign up for a class.
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sign out
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to record or authorize one’s departure by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
Residents of the halfway house must sign out at the office when leaving.
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to record that one is borrowing (a tool, file, book, etc.) by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
We can sign out one of the canoes for a few hours and go exploring.
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Digital Technology. to log out of an account on a device or website.
If using a library computer, be sure to sign out at the end of your session.
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noun
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something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable
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an action or gesture intended to convey information, a command, etc
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a board, placard, etc, displayed in public and inscribed with words or designs intended to inform, warn, etc
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( as modifier )
a sign painter
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an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc
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maths logic
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any symbol indicating an operation
a plus sign
an implication sign
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the positivity or negativity of a number, quantity, or expression
subtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression
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an indication or vestige
the house showed no signs of being occupied
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a portentous or significant event
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an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal
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med any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder Compare symptom
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astrology Compare sign of the zodiac
verb
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to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc
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to make a sign; signal
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to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc
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(tr) to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross
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(tr) to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken
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(intr) to use sign language
Synonym Usage
Sign, omen, portent name that which gives evidence of a future event. Sign is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event—past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An omen is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. Portent, limited, like omen, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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postsignverb (used with object)
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signableadjective
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signlessadjective
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signlikeadjective
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unsignedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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signsimple
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signssimple
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have signedperfect
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has signedperfect
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am signingprogressive
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are signingprogressive
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is signingprogressive
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have been signingperfect progressive
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has been signingperfect progressive
Past
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signedsimple
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had signedperfect
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was signingprogressive
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were signingprogressive
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had been signingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sign
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun signe, sign, from Old French and Latin signum “mark, sign, ensign, signal, image”; verb ultimately from the noun
Explanation
A sign is a clue something happened, or a display that communicates a message, like a stop sign that tells you stop. To sign also means to write your signature. The word sign has many senses, but in a general, it usually has something to say. It may be a symptom that tells about a problem, or it may just be a symbol, like the plus and minus signs in math. Sign language uses hand signals to represent words and letters. And if thunder rumbles whenever you open that book, you may take it as a sign not to read it.
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:
Sophie's advice to others is to set reminders as soon as you sign up to a subscription for when the free trial ends.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
In a good sign for global economic activity, two major shipping lines posted solid earnings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
It could also be a sign that even higher-end consumers are looking for more financing as they hold on to their cash for other uses.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
There is a mini photo shoot with Floren’s truck in front of the vintage hotel sign, and then we jump in the cars and backtrack up the 33/166 toward Hudson Ranch Road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
An adorable little girl with a sign that says “Go, Mommy!” calls, “Yay, Grace! Yay, Jonah!” when we pass, and my heart swells.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
U.S. stock futures were higher in early European trading, as investors weighed signs of cooling U.S. inflation that might allow the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates, and ahead of PPI data due later Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Eye experts are warning people to be on the alert for any signs their vision has been damaged by looking at the sun during Wednesday's eclipse.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
This has shown no signs of stopping, despite mounting evidence every day that the planet is under increasing stress and people are starting to suffer in vast numbers.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
Their shops down narrow alleys sit dark behind faded signs advertising "traditional fortune-telling houses".
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Across the semicircular door were signs hammered across the entire surface.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Previously, Spectrum signed a 15-year contract for $8.1 million in 2011.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Tielemans, who helped Belgium reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup this summer, signed for United in July until 2031.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Citing a growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum that enlists the help of the private sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The matchup at Crypto.com Arena will be James’ first return to L.A. after the four-time NBA champion signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Once, they took their father’s signed Derek Jeter baseball and hid it under Danny’s pillow.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
There was no question that Dudamel was a once-in-a-generation talent and that his signing had been an L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Other companies signing up for Form’s batteries include Crusoe, which is building AI data centers for Oracle and Meta Platforms among others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
The legislation will now go to the cabinet before being passed to President Joseph Aoun for signing.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The open-enrollment period for signing up for Medicare coverage runs from Oct.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Fischer went his own way, agreeing to little and signing nothing.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
