sign

noun \ ˈsīn \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: sign in a Sentence

Definition of sign

1 a : a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known

b : signal 2a

c : a fundamental linguistic unit that designates an object or relation or has a purely syntactic function

signs include words, morphemes, and punctuation

d : one of a set of gestures used to represent language; also : sign language

2 : a mark having a conventional meaning and used in place of words or to represent a complex notion

3 : one of the 12 divisions of the zodiac

4 a (1) : a character (such as a flat or sharp) used in musical notation

(2) : segno

b : a character (such as ÷) indicating a mathematical operation; also : one of two characters + and − that form part of the symbol of a number and characterize it as positive or negative

5 a : a display (such as a lettered board or a configuration of neon tubing) used to identify or advertise a place of business or a product

b : a posted command, warning, or direction

c : signboard

6 a : something material or external that stands for or signifies something spiritual

b : something indicating the presence or existence of something else

signs of success

a sign of the times

c : presage, portent

signs of an early spring

d : an objective evidence of plant or animal disease

7 plural usually sign : traces of a usually wild animal

red fox sign

See sign defined for English-language learners

See sign defined for kids

Examples of sign in a Sentence

The sign in the store window says “OPEN.”
After you get off the highway, follow the signs for Route 25.
He ran the stop sign.
There was a “For Sale” sign on the car.
All the signs point to him as the guilty party.
She ignored me, which was a sure sign that she was mad at me.
“The company called me in for a second interview.” “That's a good sign.”
It was a bad sign that he couldn't walk on the injured leg.
There are plenty of warning signs that the company is in danger of bankruptcy.
They bowed before the king as a sign of respect.

Recent Examples of sign from the Web

Facts: There's no outward sign that Trump's aggressive posturing changed anything for the alliance other than bruise its veneer of unity.

— calvin woodward and hope yen, chicagotribune.com, "Trump is in Europe and the truth is not with him: A fact check," 14 July 2018
Clearing out social media accounts is usually a sign that an artist is preparing to reset their narrative and change their image in some way.

— alessandra rincón, Billboard, "Miley Cyrus' Instagram Page Has Been Wiped Clean," 13 July 2018
But bad dreams are not a reliable sign of what’s to come.

— simon shuster/tallinn, Time, "Trump Shakes Up NATO, but Eastern European Allies Aren't Stirred," 13 July 2018
But the struggle to keep this resistant yeast from surging is a warning sign that relying on standard responses won't work.

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "The Strange and Curious Case of the Deadly Superbug Yeast," 13 July 2018
Yet established corporates’ growing interest is also a sign that the firm can endure.

— The Economist, "Big corporates’ quest to be hip is helping WeWork," 12 July 2018
The inclusion of virtual tokens — along with traditional crimes like money laundering and investment schemes targeting the elderly — as a focus of a panel announced Wednesday is the latest sign of Washington’s concern over digital currencies.

— bloomberg, Fortune, "Trump's New Task Force Will Take On Crypto Crime," 11 July 2018
Her urine is also clear which is another good sign.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "Cat Fighting for Life After Someone Sets Firecracker Off Inside of Her," 11 July 2018
Companies have fought vicious lawsuits in attempts to protect their self-driving secrets, and given how wide open the potential market is for the technology there is little sign the tensions will end any time soon.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Ex-Apple Employee Charged With Stealing Self-Driving Tech," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sign.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sign

Middle English signe, from Anglo-French, from Latin signum mark, token, sign, image, seal; perhaps akin to Latin secare to cut — more at saw

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

sign Synonyms

Synonyms

gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime, signal;

Related Words

beck, beckon, flourish, shrug, wave;

body language, posture;

indication, motion;

Synonym Discussion of sign

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

sign

verb

Definition of sign

signed; signing; signs

transitive verb

1 a : cross 2

b : to place a sign on or mark by signs

sign a trail

c : to represent or indicate by a sign

2 a : to affix a signature to : ratify or attest by hand or seal

sign a bill into law

sign a confession

b : to assign or convey formally

signed over his property to his brother

c : to write down (one's name)

d : to affix one's name to

a signed review

3 : to communicate by making a sign or by sign language

4 : to engage or hire by securing the signature of on a contract of employment —often used with up or on

intransitive verb

1 : to write one's name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation

signed for the packages

signed with the team for one season

2 a : to make a sign or signal

b : to use sign language

—

signee

play \ˌsī-ˈnē\ noun

—

signer

play \ˈsī-nər\ noun

See sign defined for English-language learners

Examples of sign in a Sentence

Sign your name on the bottom line.
She met with fans and signed autographs.
Please sign at the bottom of the application.
You forgot to sign the document.
He was forced to sign the confession.
The contract was signed by both parties.
The author will be signing copies of his books today.
The contract should be signed, sealed, and delivered by tomorrow.
The team signed the pitcher to a three-year contract.
He is signed to a three-year contract.

Recent Examples of sign from the Web

An officer reported seeing two men fighting in the middle of Village Center Drive by Burr Ridge Parkway at 4:23 p.m. July 7, but neither wanted to sign a complaint.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Police blotter: Burr Ridge officers follow suspects in eight car burglaries onto I-55 before losing them," 14 July 2018
Mauricio Pellegrino has explained his decision to sign a one season contract with Leganes, having failed to see out the first year of a three year deal at Southampton.

— SI.com, "Mauricio Pellegrino Aiming to Avoid Southampton Mistakes After Signing 1-Year Leganes Contract," 13 July 2018
May hopes to sign a trade deal with the U.S. after the U.K. leaves the EU in March next year.

— john fritze, USA TODAY, "Trump's bombshell interview with UK tabloid threatens to overshadow visit to Britain," 13 July 2018
Orlando’s team in the Alliance of American Football has yet to sign its first player.

— stephen ruiz, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando's Alliance of American Football team learns how it will procure players," 13 July 2018
Lydia Murray, who is Chinese-American, penned the letter and got the signature of 12 of her colleagues, also calling out her fellow interns who did not want to sign the letter.

— cameron cawthorne, Fox News, "Interns send signed letter to DCCC chairman demanding intern pay, call out 'white and wealthy' interns who didn't sign letter," 13 July 2018
In 2009, then-Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb pushed for Philadelphia to sign Vick, which put his eventual successor on the roster with him.

— katherine fominykh, baltimoresun.com, "After mentoring Michael Vick, new Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban getting Lamar Jackson up to speed," 13 July 2018
Marilyn never considered telling Patrick not to sign anything without his parents present.

— emma kate fittes, Indianapolis Star, "A Carmel High School student's suicide raises questions over how schools discipline kids," 11 July 2018
Suu Kyi has previously called on all armed ethnic groups to sign the cease-fire.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Myanmar opens peace conference with ethnic rebel groups," 11 July 2018

Origin and Etymology of sign

Middle English, from Anglo-French signer, from Latin signare to mark, sign, seal, from signum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

sign Synonyms

Synonyms

autograph, ink, subscribe;

inscribe;

author, pen, pencil (in), scratch (out), scrawl, scribble;

notarize;

SIGN Defined for English Language Learners

sign

noun

Definition of sign for English Language Learners

: a piece of paper, wood, etc., with words or pictures on it that gives information about something
: something (such as an action or event) which shows that something else exists, is true, or will happen
: a motion, action, or movement that you use to express a thought, command, or wish

sign

verb

Definition of sign for English Language Learners

: to write (your name) on something
: to write your name on (something) especially to show that you accept, agree with, or will be responsible for something
: to hire (someone) to do something especially by having that person sign a contract

SIGN Defined for Kids

sign

noun \ ˈsīn \

Definition of sign for Students

1 : a motion, action, or movement of the hand that means something

The teacher made a sign for them to be quiet.

2 : a public notice that advertises something or gives information

a stop sign

3 : something that indicates what is present or is to come

the first signs of spring

4 : a symbol (as + or ÷) indicating a mathematical operation

5 : one of the twelve parts of the zodiac

Word Root of sign

The Latin word signum, meaning “mark” or “indication,” gives us the root sign. Words from the Latin signum have something to do with marks, signs, or indications. A sign is a move of the hand that indicates something to others. To designate is to mark someone or something for a special purpose. A signal is an indication that an action should begin.