denote

verb de·note \ di-ˈnōt , dē- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 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

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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

Unix, however, uses a bare line feed to denote that a new line should be started.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Notepad gets a major upgrade, now does Unix line endings," 9 May 2018
That said, the fact that the term Gypsy is so often used to denote free-spirited or traveling lifestyles has real-life repercussions for actual Romany people.

— michael paulson, New York Times, "Term of Affection? Ethnic Slur? Theater Union Decides That ‘Gypsy’ Must Go.," 20 Apr. 2018
Our ancestors knew about pi at least as far back as 4,000 years ago, even if a Greek letter wasn't used to denote it until 1647.

— dan rockmore /, NBC News, "Pi Day spotlights one of math's most seductive numbers," 14 Mar. 2018
Boxes mounted above a long, golden wood bench hold an army of mason jars and a chalkboard set below the standard menu denotes the multitude of daily specials.

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "You won't regret indulging at downtown Louisville's Atlantic No. 5," 9 May 2018
Does Indiana Jones become Indiana Joan, wherein the reboot is set in a dystopian world (or Russia) where last name denotes gender?

— megan farokhmanesh, The Verge, "Indiana Joan Jones is the female lady heroine that women need," 5 Apr. 2018
Compared with the $132-a-share reference price — a number set by the New York Stock Exchange that doesn't denote an offering price or valuation, but is necessary to open the shares — the stock rose as much as 28%.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "Spotify's non-IPO: The company wanted a calm stock-market debut, and that's what it got," 3 Apr. 2018
Jewish men and women alike had to wear a yellow item of clothing when outside the ghetto, to denote their difference.

— joan nathan, New York Times, "A Seder Feast in Provence, With Roots in Ancient Rome," 20 Mar. 2018
As police were investigating the explosion, another package bomb denoted less than 5 miles away.

— alejandra matos, San Antonio Express-News, "Police in Austin continue search for bomb maker," 16 Mar. 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

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denotement

Examples of denote in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of denote

denote Synonyms

Synonyms

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DENOTE Defined for English Language Learners

denote

Definition of denote for English Language Learners

DENOTE Defined for Kids

denote

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