signal
Americannoun
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signals
plural
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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
-
anything agreed upon or understood as the occasion for concerted action.
-
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
-
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.
-
unusual; notable; outstanding.
a signal exploit.
- Synonyms:
- striking, remarkable, exceptional, unique
verb (used with object)
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signals,
present (3rd person singular)
-
signaled,
past participle, past
-
signalled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
signaling,
present participle
-
signalling
present participle (especially British)
-
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)
-
signals,
present (3rd person singular)
-
signaled,
past participle, past
-
signalled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
signaling,
present participle
-
signalling
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
any sign, gesture, token, etc, that serves to communicate information
-
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
-
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
-
have signaledperfect
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have signalledperfect
-
has signaledperfect
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has signalledperfect
-
am signalingprogressive
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am signallingprogressive
-
are signalingprogressive
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are signallingprogressive
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is signalingprogressive
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is signallingprogressive
-
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
-
signaledsimple
-
signalledsimple
-
had signaledperfect
-
had signalledperfect
-
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:
Many display high balances in their investment accounts to signal that they are trustworthy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
The researchers speculate that the signal could come from a "stream" of material released by the star's core while the black hole's immense gravity was tearing it apart.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
And that was essentially a bat signal for scholars and historians to try to come up with those reasons and feed them to the court.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026
Yet, it was a signal of Alonso and Chelsea's backing when Reece James left the field he passed his long-time vice-captain the armband as usual.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“It’s exactly the signal boost we need,” Owen says.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
So as you get older, your brain is less able to register these signals and may cause your joints to bear weight unevenly.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
On a recent night in Kyiv when there were mixed signals about a Russian strike, Kateryna Reshetnyk had gone down to the subway.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
When markets trade near historical highs, investors need clear signals about operating strength, not bespoke metrics designed to help management beat consensus estimates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Lindelof’s involvement, along with that of “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” series author Tom King, signals a seriousness of intent amplified by the placing the series’ showrunner stewardship under “True Detective” and “Ozark” producer Chris Mundy.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
It’s a sensation I’ve come to love as I’ve traveled more, the way a new place signals itself instantly and without pretense.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
The ISM reported that 20% of the manufacturing GDP last month had an index reading that signaled contraction, up from 5% in June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
A California federal judge on Thursday signaled that she is likely to order immigration agents to stop arresting people without warrants unless they determine they are likely to escape.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Morgan analyst Joseph Cardoso noted that Lumentum’s management signaled that there are opportunities in the pipeline around lasers and other optical equipment that largely aren’t yet factored into the company’s broader financial targets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
But the recent chaos in negotiations signaled Tehran is prepared for a long and grinding conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
She turned to her cameraman and signaled for him to start recording again.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Tehran signalled last week that it had agreed with Oman a route for ships to transit the strait and were finalising arrangements to jointly manage the waterway.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Burnham has signalled a shift in north sea oil policy, earning praise from the Oval Office, but the dynamic between Miliband and Rubio will be closely watched.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
And while the American, who ended up carding a bogey, immediately bounced back a further dropped shot on the 14th signalled that it would not be her day.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Burnham became Britain's seventh prime minister in just over a decade Monday and signalled a new left-ward direction for the Labour government during his first speech outside No. 10.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
He smiled and, one hand holding onto the railing, the other waving, signalled me to come over.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
"We were able to identify numerous genes and signaling pathways that are temporarily activated during repair. They could serve as starting points in the future for influencing post-disease and -injury regeneration processes," Weber stresses.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
“The signaling effect of this rare, coordinated intervention is significant,” the strategists say in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The company is keeping costs in check while signaling upbeat growth trends, analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
SpaceX shares dipped below their IPO price of $135 on Wednesday morning for the first time since listing, signaling dwindling hype around the Elon Musk company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
A man of no consequence, except a tiny reputation as a tracker based on one or two escapades signaling his expertise in reading trails.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
In April, the company launched its "Verified by Spotify" badge, signalling that a profile has been reviewed and meets its authenticity standard.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Friday's data will also pose a question to the US Federal Reserve, which has been signalling it was preparing for a rate hike later this year.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
Bosses say engineers have been working hard to "build additional resilience into our signalling systems to ensure that this doesn't happen again".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Mudryk also trained on Monday, and before the training session, Chelsea filmed him pointing to the club badge, perhaps signalling his appreciation for the support he has received from them during his time away.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Her governess was now urgently signalling her to return to her own table—in effect, to stop bothering the man.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
