signal
Americannoun
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anything that serves to indicate, warn, direct, command, or the like, such as a light, a gesture, an act, etc.: a signal to leave.
a traffic signal;
a signal to leave.
- Synonyms:
- sign
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anything agreed upon or understood as the occasion for concerted action.
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an act, event, or the like that causes or incites some action.
The unjust execution was the signal for revolt.
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a token; indication.
- Synonyms:
- sign
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Electronics. an electrical quantity or effect, as current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves, that can be varied in such a way as to convey information.
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Cards. a play that reveals to one's partner a wish that they continue or discontinue the suit led.
adjective
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serving as a token or indication; used in communiating an intention, warning, or command.
a signal flag.
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unusual; notable; outstanding.
a signal exploit.
- Synonyms:
- striking, remarkable, exceptional, unique
verb (used with object)
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to make a token or indication to.
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to communicate or make known by a token or indication.
verb (used without object)
noun
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any sign, gesture, token, etc, that serves to communicate information
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anything that acts as an incitement to action
the rise in prices was a signal for rebellion
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a variable parameter, such as a current or electromagnetic wave, by which information is conveyed through an electronic circuit, communications system, etc
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the information so conveyed
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( as modifier )
signal strength
a signal generator
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adjective
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distinguished or conspicuous
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used to give or act as a signal
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presignalnoun
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signalernoun
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signallernoun
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resignalverb
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unsignaledadjective
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unsignalledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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signalsimple
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signalssimple
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have signaledperfect
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have signalledperfect
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has signaledperfect
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has signalledperfect
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am signalingprogressive
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am signallingprogressive
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are signalingprogressive
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are signallingprogressive
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is signalingprogressive
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is signallingprogressive
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have been signalingperfect progressive
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have been signallingperfect progressive
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has been signalingperfect progressive
-
has been signallingperfect progressive
Past
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signaledsimple
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signalledsimple
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had signaledperfect
-
had signalledperfect
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was signalingprogressive
-
was signallingprogressive
-
were signalingprogressive
-
were signallingprogressive
-
had been signalingperfect progressive
-
had been signallingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of signal
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun from Old French seignal, signal, from Medieval Latin signāle, Late Latin, noun use of neuter of signālis “of a sign”; see sign, -al 2, -al 1
Explanation
A signal is a gesture or message that people use to communicate with each other. The wave you give a good friend to call her over from across the room and the impulse that transmits your voice through the telephone to your mother are both signals. In the course of a single day, you probably send and receive thousands of different signals. When you want to cross the street, you wait for the green light — a signal that it's safe to cross. If you're in a relationship and you're not sure whether you like the person you're dating, you could be sending mixed signals — first acting like you're interested, and then acting uninterested. If your date finally gets tired of your mixed signals while you're at a restaurant, you'll need to signal to your server that it's time for the check.
Vocabulary lists containing signal
Baseball: A Lexicon
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Words for the World Series
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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:
Our MVB sell signal is still in place, with a target at the –4σ Band, which is now just above 7,300 and rising.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Not everyone is happy with the decision to open a police station there, saying it sends the wrong signal.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
It uses a string of LED lights laid along the track to signal to an athlete the exact rhythm he needs to break a record.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
If the technology is commercialized, a single programmable optical chip could perform several tasks, including controlling signal speed and switching between different functions.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
About a hundred yards from Booth’s camp, Jones dismounted, walked slowly, and whistled the secret signal as he came within earshot of the assassins.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
From the chart of the put-call ratio of KEY, one can see that there were two previous sell signals in the past year, and both resulted in a modest decline in the stock price.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
The suit signals growing discontent in the real-estate industry over Mamdani policies aimed at making housing more affordable at a time when rents have surged to record highs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Fampridine boosts nerve signals to make it easier for some people to move and live independently.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
These challenges have intensified interest in optical computing, which uses light rather than electrical signals to process information.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
“You’ve got to learn how to interpret the signals your father gives off.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Even as the fighting intensifies, both sides have signaled openness to diplomacy.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
At the same time, several other Fed officials have signaled support for raising rates.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
The Federal Reserve has signaled it may raise interest rates this year if inflation stays elevated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Tam said Southern California’s recent high humidity may have signaled a prime environment for the plants to unfurl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
She signaled her family to wait, and James nodded to show he understood.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
A longtime opponent of Brexit, Burnham has repeatedly signalled his desire to build closer ties between Britain and the European Union.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Sobers was briefly caught by Roger Davis at long-off from the fifth ball - but the fielder fell over the boundary rope in taking the catch, and six was signalled.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
In recent days the Japanese finance minister, Satsuki Katayama, has signalled a possible shift in government pension fund assets towards domestic investment.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Barry Callebaut, one of the world's biggest chocolate makers, signalled Thursday that chocoholics are starting to replenish their stocks after being stung by inflation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
He claimed afterwards he’d signalled to me to come over, but if he had, it hadn’t been at all obvious.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
They are naturally occuring in the body, signaling molecules that dictate major physiological processes like tissue repair or metabolism.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Apple recently signed a deal with Intel to make some of its chips, signaling that Intel is becoming more competitive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Issuance of new software leveraged loans tumbled in 2026, signaling a skittishness about bank lending in the sector, but also creating less supply for investors to digest.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
The medication was first developed for cancer research and blocks a signaling pathway that microglia depend on for survival.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
“So, you think they’re signaling to all of their friends, even ones miles away, that there’s food here?”
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
"We have chosen to focus on the cost of living in our first week, signalling that concern for working people will be at the heart of everything we do," he added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Was this wardrobe change a symbolic gesture - Burnham signalling that with his move from Greater Manchester mayor to prime minister he would be adopting a more formal style in the job?
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
He also announced "our agreement to begin the process of exchanging resident ambassadors between Damascus and Paris as soon as possible, signalling the return of diplomatic relations to their normal state".
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
On the railways alone, he cited train delays, cancellations due to buckled rails, on-board air conditioning failure, cable and signalling meltdown.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
I was abruptly awakened by the loud ringing of a churchbell, signalling the start of the school day.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
