Definition of denote
transitive verb
1 : to serve as an indication of : betoken the swollen bellies that denote starvation
2 : to serve as an arbitrary mark for red flares denoting danger
3 : to make known : announce his crestfallen look denoted his distress
4a : to serve as a linguistic expression of the notion of : mean in the southern U.S., the word “toboggan” denotes a stocking capb : to stand for : designate the symbol / denotes “or,” “and or,” or “per” An epiphany is, literally, a showing. In Christian terminology it denotes the showing of the infant Jesus to the three Magi. — David Lodge
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Examples of denote in a Sentence
The word “derby” can denote a horse race or a kind of hat.
Her death denoted the end of an era.
Recent Examples of denote from the Web
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Of the other 13, 10 are Hall of Famers, two fell short and Robinson Cano is still active (* denotes a Hall of Fame inductee).
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All the uniforms are one piece and hemmed low, as cheongsam typically is: The 3/4 sleeves denote simplicity and just the right amount of modesty, symbolic of the cabin crew's high level of competence.
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Synthetic denotes fake and artificial, the imitation of natural—think synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester—but that’s not how most synthetic biologists view their craft.
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Closer to downtown, the Westminster Burying Grounds are an evocative setting for Poe's two — count 'em, two — grave markers, one denoting where he's actually buried and the other being a more elaborate monument erected years after his 1849 death.
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The Plymouth doesn't have racing stripes, a blower popping out the hood, a big wing in back or the other features that often denote the most powerful muscle cars..
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Genuine Camembert bears a special stamp denoting its provenance and is made with raw milk in a historically accurate way.
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The map is full of yellow pushpins denoting sales to nearly 70 countries, including China, Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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The word cordwainer–denoting a maker of leather shoes–is derived from the Spanish city of Córdoba, which was famed for its exceptional leather.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'denote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of denote
Middle French denoter, from Latin denotare, from de- + notare to note
DENOTE Defined for English Language Learners
denote
playDefinition of denote for English Language Learners
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of a word : to have (something) as a meaning : to mean (something)
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: to show, mark, or be a sign of (something)
DENOTE Defined for Kids
Learn More about denote
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See words that rhyme with denote Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for denote Spanish Central: Translation of denote Nglish: Translation of denote for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of denote for Arabic speakers
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