signal 1 of 3

Definition of signalnext
1
as in flag
an object intended to give public notice or warning stop signs are signals for vehicles to come to a full stop—not suggestions for slowing down, as some drivers seem to think

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2
as in gesture
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling quietly waiting for the signal to advance

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signal

2 of 3

verb

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away

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signal

3 of 3

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of signal
Noun
The partnership is also being positioned as a signal of a broader industry shift in Thailand toward content that prioritizes audience engagement alongside commercial ambition. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026 Consultation signals shared authority. Kenneth Zagacki, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
The covers, which often accompany literary fiction written by women, signal a particular emotional register of naive, sticky chaos that youth promises. Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Both are key Officer Agents within Baroque Works, and their presence signals the season will feature the full gauntlet of one-on-one battles that define the arc’s climax in the manga. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for signal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signal
Noun
  • The mark incorporates the franchise’s signature tri-star — a nod to the Tennessee state flag — alongside the team’s traditional blue, white and red colors.
    Zach Powell, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The prosecution displayed dozens of items of evidence in front of the jury, including guns that were found during home searches and an antifa flag.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Aunt Fely, with her compliments and her contrived umbrage at the theatricality of my sartorial gesture, was only a minute away.
    Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Whether in a comedy, with slapstick archetypes, or in a serious Shakespearean tragedy, communicating subtle threats through unique gestures, gait, and facial expressions, or in a modern experimental piece, Dominic excels.
    Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Johnson opponents motioned last week to force a council floor vote on legislation to pause the One Fair Wage policy, passed in 2023 and now in its third year of moving toward full implementation.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Ohtani watched the ball, flipped his bat and motioned with both hands to teammates in the third-base dugout.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Bradley was named the tournament’s most outstanding player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Burries, Houston’s Joseph Tugler, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Students earned their place at the state competition through outstanding performances at the regional level, which was hosted over five weekends on the Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) campus.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • New beginnings are possible under today’s energetic New Moon in your sign.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Dubai, a major transit hub for international travel, briefly shut its airspace, the second disruption to flights in the city in as many days as the war showed no signs of abating.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The fabric covering her front continued behind her like two mini trains, which Olandria waved with her hands, creating an almost wing-like shape.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
  • As the first wave of free agency passed, Sean Payton waved back from his office window.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Humbert School was the creation of its director, John Cooney, a distinguished journalist and major historian.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Dennis Ross is the counselor and a distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute.
    Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In an exposé by the Atlantic, professors warned that students at some of the nation’s most prestigious film programs now lack the attention span to sit through entire movies.
    Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Chilean architect Smiljan Radić Clarke has been named the winner of the 2026 Pritzker Prize, architecture’s most prestigious honor.
    News Desk, Artforum, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Signal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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