denoted; denoting; denotes
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
4
a
: to serve as a linguistic expression of the notion of : mean
in the southern U.S., the word "toboggan" denotes a stocking cap
b
: 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
David LodgeExamples 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 on the Web
The word conclave has gone from meaning simply a locked room in ancient Rome to denoting the very particular process by which a new Catholic pope is elected.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Even among legal scholars, there is some confusion about the terms textualism and originalism -- both denoting methods of legal interpretation.
—Mary Katharine Ham, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
Equal Pay Day falls on March 25, 2025, denoting how far into the new year women must work to be paid what men were paid the previous year.
—Holly Corbett, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Each chapter heading denotes a camera model and setting, foreshadowing what’s to come, as Rita tenaciously follows both the clues and the demands of those pesky spirits.
—The Know, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denote
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Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Even among legal scholars, there is some confusion about the terms textualism and originalism -- both denoting methods of legal interpretation.
—Mary Katharine Ham, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
Equal Pay Day falls on March 25, 2025, denoting how far into the new year women must work to be paid what men were paid the previous year.
—Holly Corbett, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Each chapter heading denotes a camera model and setting, foreshadowing what’s to come, as Rita tenaciously follows both the clues and the demands of those pesky spirits.
—The Know, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denote
Cite this Entry
“Denote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denote. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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