mark

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈmärk 

1

: a boundary land

2

a(1)

: a conspicuous object serving as a guide for travelers

(2)

: something (such as a line, notch, or fixed object) designed to record position

b

: one of the bits of leather or colored bunting placed on a sounding line at intervals

c

: target

d

: the starting line or position in a track event

e(1)

: goal, object

(2)

: an object of attack, ridicule, or abuse

specifically : a victim or prospective victim of a swindle

(3)

: the point under discussion

(4)

: condition of being correct or accurate

her observations are on the mark

f

: a standard of performance, quality, or condition : norm

not feeling up to the mark lately

3

a(1)

: sign, indication

a mark of his esteem

(2)

: an impression (such as a scratch, scar, or stain) made on something

(3)

: a distinguishing trait or quality : characteristic

the marks of an educated person

b

: a symbol used for identification or indication of ownership

c

: a cross made in place of a signature

d(1)

: trademark

(2)

capitalized

—used with a numeral to designate a particular model of a product

Mark II

e

: a written or printed symbol (such as a comma or colon)

f

: postmark

g

: a symbol used to represent a teacher's estimate of a student's work or conduct

especially : grade

h

: a figure registering a point or level reached or achieved

the halfway mark in the game

especially : record

4

a

: attention, notice

nothing worthy of mark

b

: importance, distinction

a person of mark

c

: a lasting or strong impression

d

: an assessment of merits : rating

high marks for honesty

mark

2 of 4

verb

marked; marking; marks

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to fix or trace out the bounds or limits of

(2)

: to plot the course of : chart

b

: to set apart by or as if by a line or boundary

—usually used with off

2

a(1)

: to designate as if by a mark

(2)

: to make or leave a mark on

(3)

: to furnish with natural marks

wings marked with white

(4)

: to label so as to indicate price or quality

(5)

: to make notations in or on

b(1)

: to make note of in writing : jot

marking the date in his journal

(2)

: to indicate by a mark or symbol

mark an accent

(3)

: register, record

(4)

: to determine the value of by means of marks or symbols : grade

mark term papers

c(1)

: characterize, distinguish

the flamboyance that marks her style

(2)

: signalize

this year marks our 50th anniversary

3

: to take notice of : observe

mark my words

4

: to pick up (one's golf ball) from a putting green and substitute a marker

intransitive verb

: to take careful notice

mark

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: any of various old European units of weight used especially for gold and silver

especially : a unit equal to about eight ounces (248 grams)

2

: a unit of value:

a

: an old English unit equal to 13 shillings and 4 pence

b

: any one of various old Scandinavian or German units of value

specifically : a unit and corresponding silver coin of the 16th century worth ¹/₂ thaler

c(1)

: deutsche mark

(2)

: the basic monetary unit of East Germany replaced in 1990 by the West German deutsche mark

d

: markka

Mark

4 of 4

noun (3)

ˈmärk 

1

a

: an early Jewish Christian traditionally identified as the writer of the Gospel of Mark

called also John Mark

b

: the second Gospel (see gospel entry 1 sense 1) in the New Testament see Bible Table

2

: a king of Cornwall, uncle of Tristram, and husband of Isolde

Phrases

mark time

1

: to keep the time of a marching step by moving the feet alternately without advancing

2

: to maintain a static state of readiness

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• joke
• target

Verb

• label
• tag
• stamp
• identify

Choose the Right Synonym for mark

sign, mark, token, note, symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible.

sign applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason.

encouraging signs for the economy

mark suggests something impressed on or inherently characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance.

a mark of a good upbringing

token applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible.

this gift is a token of our esteem

note suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic.

a note of irony in her writing

symptom suggests an outward indication of an internal change or condition.

rampant crime is a symptom of that city's decay

Examples of mark in a Sentence

Noun (1)

in the wake of the scandal, the disgraced governor became the favorite mark of late-night comedians

his gullibility and tendency to fall for bluffs made him an easy mark at the poker table

a brand of crystal that bears the mark of excellence

lately his playing hasn't been up to the mark expected of a concert pianist

set marks for expected daily output

a sensitive expression that is the mark of a poet

a small mark where the car had scraped a wall

a person of some mark in the field of evolutionary biology

Verb

Any little bit of dirt will mark that fabric.

Be careful not to mark the floor with your shoes.

mark an accent on a letter

She marked an “X” on each box.

I have marked the event on my calendar.

She marked each box with an “X.”

X marks the spot where the suspect was last seen.

Use a bookmark to mark your place.

We put some tape on the floor to mark where the tables should go.

The dog marked the base of the tree by urinating.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Earlier this season, Kelce set the mark for all-purpose yards, passing Dante Hall. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025

Talk about Drake starts just shy of the 39-minute mark. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

The schools earlier this year were deemed in compliance with the federal consent decree for the first time, marking an improvement. —Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Barclays Plc is returning to Saudi Arabia after an 11-year absence, marking both a strategic expansion for the British lender and a symbolic validation of Riyadh’s growing status as the Middle East’s corporate command hub. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mearc boundary, march, sign; akin to Old High German marha boundary, Latin margo

Verb

Middle English, from Old English mearcian; akin to Old High German marcōn to mark, determine the boundaries of, Old English mearc boundary

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English marc, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mǫrk mark; akin to Old English mearc sign

Noun (3)

Latin Marcus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mark

• accent mark
• a question mark over
• beauty mark
• bench mark
• black mark
• certification mark
• chatter mark
• check mark
• chop mark
• close to the mark
• collective mark
• deutsche mark
• ditto mark
• D-mark
• failing grade/mark
• find one's mark/target
• German mark
• hash mark
• high-water mark
• hit the mark
• identifying mark/feature
• make one's mark
• mark down
• mark my words
• mark out
• mark time
• mark up
• mark you
• miss its/the mark
• near the mark
• off the mark
• on your mark
• overstep the mark/line
• percent mark
• Plimsoll mark
• punctuation mark
• question mark
• quick/slow off the mark
• quotation mark
• reference mark
• ripple mark
• service mark
• short of the mark
• space mark
• staccato mark
• strawberry mark
• stress mark
• toe the mark
• up to the mark
• wide of the mark

Rhymes for mark

• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark
• marc
• marque
• narc
• quark
• shark

Kids Definition

mark

1 of 4 noun

ˈmärk 

1

a

: a noticeable object serving as a guide for travelers

b

: something (as a line, notch, or fixed object) designed to record position

high-water mark

c

: something aimed at : target

d

: the starting line or position in a track event

e

: an object of ridicule

f

: a standard of performance, quality, or condition

not up to the mark

2

a

: something that gives evidence of something else : sign, indication

a mark of friendship

b

: an impression (as a scar, scratch, or stain) made on a surface

c

: a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality

d

: a cross made in place of a signature

e

: a written or printed symbol

f

: a symbol (as a brand or label) used for identification (as of ownership or quality)

g

: a symbol (as a number or letter) representing a teacher's estimation of the quality of work or conduct : grade

3

a

: importance, distinction

stands out as a person of mark

b

: a lasting or strong impression

worked at several jobs but didn't make much of a mark

mark

2 of 4 verb

1

a

: to fix or trace out the bounds of by or as if by a mark

b

: to set apart by a boundary

mark off a tennis court

2

a

: to designate as if by a mark

marked for greatness

b

: to make a mark or notation on

c

: to furnish with natural marks

wings marked with white

d

: to label so as to indicate price or quality

3

a

: to make note of in writing : jot

marking the date in a journal

b

: to indicate by a mark or symbol

mark an accent

c

: to determine the value of by means of marks : grade

mark exam papers

4

: to be an important characteristic of : characterize, distinguish

a disease marked by fever

5

: to take notice of : observe

mark my words

mark

3 of 4 noun

: deutsche mark

Mark

4 of 4 noun

ˈmärk 

: the second Gospel in the New Testament see bible

Etymology

Noun

Old English mearc "boundary"

Noun

Old English marc "a unit of weight"; probably of Scandinavian origin

Medical Definition

mark

noun

ˈmärk 

1

: a narrow deep hollow on the surface of the crown of a horse's incisor tooth that gradually becomes obliterated by the wearing away of the crown and therefore is indicative of the animal's age and usually disappears from the lower central incisors about the sixth year while traces may remain in the upper until the eleventh

2

: an impression or trace made or occurring on something see birthmark, strawberry mark

3

: a cut (as an ear notch) made on livestock for identification

marked adjective

Legal Definition

mark

1 of 2 noun

1

: a character usually in the form of a cross or X that is made as a substitute for a signature by a person who cannot write his or her name

2

: a character, device, label, brand, seal, or other sign put on an article or used in connection with a service especially to show the maker or owner, to certify quality, or for identification:

a

: trademark

b

: service mark

mark

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to fix or trace out the bounds or limits of

a landowner marking his boundary

2

: to affix a significant identifying mark (as a trademark) to