tele·graph
ˈte-lə-ˌgraf 
1
: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals
especially
: an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire
2
: telegram
telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs
1
a
: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph
b
: to send a telegram to
c
: to send by means of a telegraphic order
2
: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance
Examples of telegraph in a Sentence
Noun
I sent the message by telegraph.
Verb
He telegraphed a message to her.
Please telegraph when you get there.
Please telegraph me when you get there.
The look on her face telegraphed bad news.
He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
At the same time, the first intercontinental telegraph wire was laid in 1858, connecting North America to Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
The federal tax system of the 1930s imposed levies on entertainment admissions, cameras, checks, telegraph and telephone messages, electric fans, firearms, furs, butter, candles, coffee, flour, hats, matches, and milk.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Secretary of War Stanton dispatches messengers to go to the telegraph office near the White House and alert the nation that John Wilkes Booth has assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Politicians use macho displays to assert dominance and not-so-subtly telegraph nostalgia for the old days.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
About 30 years ago, American Telephone and Telegraph ended its telegraph services.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
Gisborne needed financing for a project that would extend North America’s existing telegraph system from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Gregory Brew, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Even if Pasolini telegraphs John’s ultimate choice, robbing the film of some tension, that doesn’t lessen the final scene’s emotional effectiveness.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The news arrived here by telegraph the next day, but the Union headquarters at the Drum Barracks in Wilmington didn’t hear it until the next day, when the governor telegraphed the surrender news.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Justices telegraphed part of the ruling during arguments over the amendment in November.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
In August 2022, DeSantis telegraphed that Florida might help move migrants from the US-Mexico border – but not from his state.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In other words, the nude, with all its art-historical baggage, is an efficient means for artists to telegraph how their own perspective is distinct from that of their peers and predecessors.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Military officials declined to answer questions from The Washington Post about where the pier will be located and what security measures will be taken, citing a desire not to telegraph its plans.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
However, Gomez is sometimes guilty of telegraphing a moment, rather than feeling entirely natural in her choices.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
When all was done, Lincoln sat anxiously in the telegraph office in Springfield.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
At the same time, the first intercontinental telegraph wire was laid in 1858, connecting North America to Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
The federal tax system of the 1930s imposed levies on entertainment admissions, cameras, checks, telegraph and telephone messages, electric fans, firearms, furs, butter, candles, coffee, flour, hats, matches, and milk.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Secretary of War Stanton dispatches messengers to go to the telegraph office near the White House and alert the nation that John Wilkes Booth has assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Politicians use macho displays to assert dominance and not-so-subtly telegraph nostalgia for the old days.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
About 30 years ago, American Telephone and Telegraph ended its telegraph services.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
Gisborne needed financing for a project that would extend North America’s existing telegraph system from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
Government officials have been clear that new Israeli attacks will bring a stronger response, one that will be bigger and less telegraphed, and could even spur Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
—Gregory Brew, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Even if Pasolini telegraphs John’s ultimate choice, robbing the film of some tension, that doesn’t lessen the final scene’s emotional effectiveness.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The news arrived here by telegraph the next day, but the Union headquarters at the Drum Barracks in Wilmington didn’t hear it until the next day, when the governor telegraphed the surrender news.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Justices telegraphed part of the ruling during arguments over the amendment in November.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
In August 2022, DeSantis telegraphed that Florida might help move migrants from the US-Mexico border – but not from his state.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In other words, the nude, with all its art-historical baggage, is an efficient means for artists to telegraph how their own perspective is distinct from that of their peers and predecessors.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Military officials declined to answer questions from The Washington Post about where the pier will be located and what security measures will be taken, citing a desire not to telegraph its plans.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
However, Gomez is sometimes guilty of telegraphing a moment, rather than feeling entirely natural in her choices.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telegraph.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to telegraph
Dictionary Entries Near telegraph
Cite this Entry
“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
telegraph
1 of 2 noun
tele·graph
ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires
telegraphic
adjective
ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik
telegraphically
adverb
-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē
telegraph
2 of 2 verb1
: to send by or as if by telegraph
telegraphed a message
2
: to send a telegram to
telegraphed home for money
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