denote

verb de·note \ di-ˈnōt , dē- \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: denote in a Sentence

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

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

—

denotement

play \-ˈnōt-mənt\ noun

See denote defined for English-language learners

See denote defined for kids

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

Energy return denotes the amount of energy that shoe is able to retain when force is exerted upon it by a runner’s stride.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "Do New "Energy Return" Shoes Put Pep in Your Step?," 18 Apr. 2018
The term denotes the special bond a human being has with their origins.

— minna shim, Harper's BAZAAR, "These Chic Bags Come with a Touch of Magic," 8 July 2017
Spark!Fishers with an exclamation point in the middle to denote new excitement.

— john tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Speed-eating on menu at Spark!Fishers holiday weekend bash," 28 June 2018
As this video shows, the Striker comes with Swingfire training missiles that look like the real thing but have blue tips to denote their inability to blow tanks to smithereens.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "You Can Buy This Missile-Shooting Tank Killer for $36,000," 26 June 2018
One cord denoted his membership in the National Honor Society and another had been earned for the completion of his senior capstone.

— ruth bruno, courant.com, "Capital Prep High School Principal Addresses Graduates: 'This Is What Winning Looks Like'," 1 June 2018
In some of Paglen’s works, drones are seen as nothing more than a dark speck against a backdrop of becalming gray or sun-gold clouds, a way of denoting their possibly sinister near invisibility in our world.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "How Drones Are Revolutionizing the Way Film and Television Is Made," 31 May 2018
Their adventurous pursuit is serious enough that the Prospectors even have a uniform that denotes membership to the group.

— patricia hernandez, The Verge, "Bloodborne’s most hardcore players find new secrets three years after release," 20 June 2018
Malphurs encouraged swimmers to pay close attention to beach conditions, like colored flags that denote different ocean conditions.

— amanda watts, CNN, "More than 800 people were stung by jellyfish along Florida beaches in three days," 13 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1562

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

denote Synonyms

Synonyms

express, import, intend, mean, signify, spell;

Related Words

connote, imply, suggest;

hint, infer, insinuate, intimate;

embody, epitomize, personify, represent, symbol, symbolize;

advert, allude (to), cite, instance, mention, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon);

designate, indicate, point (to), signal;

DENOTE Defined for English Language Learners

denote

verb

Definition of denote for English Language Learners

of a word : to have (something) as a meaning : to mean (something)
: to show, mark, or be a sign of (something)

DENOTE Defined for Kids

denote

verb de·note \ di-ˈnōt \

Definition of denote for Students

denoted; denoting

1 : to serve as a mark or indication of

A star on the map denotes a capital.

2 : to have the meaning of : mean

"Derby" denotes a contest or a hat.

Learn More about denote

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up denote? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

denote

Definition of denote

denotement

Examples of denote in a Sentence

Recent Examples of denote from the Web

Origin and Etymology of denote

denote Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

DENOTE Defined for English Language Learners

denote

Definition of denote for English Language Learners

DENOTE Defined for Kids

denote

Definition of denote for Students

Learn More about denote

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

'Banana Republic': A History

The Eponym Quiz

Ghost Word