sign

1 of 2

noun

ˈsīn 

1

a

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

b

: signal sense 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

sign

2 of 2

verb

signed; signing; signs

transitive verb

1

a

: cross sense 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

ˌsī-ˈnē 

noun

signer

ˈsī-nər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• gesture

Verb

• autograph
• pen

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of sign in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

On expedition, the hunter who joined me on polar bear watch was relating a story from his grandfather who told him the telling sign of narwhal appearance. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

In this Fixed Water sign, the sun pulls our awareness inward, evoking a desire for loyalty, intimacy and connection. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

A number of British health leaders signed an open letter last week calling for the bill’s passage, and decrying delays in the process so far. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

Under state law, countywide petitions must be signed by 15% of those who voted for the office of circuit clerk in the most recent general election. —Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing sign

• a sign of the times
• at sign
• at the first sign
• Babinski sign
• Babinski's sign
• call sign
• division sign
• dollar sign
• equal sign
• hash sign
• high sign
• Indian sign
• lollipop sign
• minus sign
• multiplication sign
• negative sign
• number sign
• peace sign
• percent sign
• plus/minus sign
• plus sign
• pound sign
• radical sign
• re-sign
• road sign
• show no sign/signs of
• sign away
• sign for
• sign in
• sign into law
• sign language
• sign of aggregation
• sign off
• sign of the cross
• sign on
• sign one's own death warrant
• sign on the dotted line
• sign out
• sign over
• sign up
• star sign
• stop sign
• take (something) as a sign
• the sign of the cross
• times sign
• V sign
• warning sign

Rhymes for sign

• brine
• cline
• dine
• fein
• fine
• gwine
• hine
• jain
• klein
• kline
• line
• mine

Kids Definition

sign

1 of 2 noun

ˈsīn 

1

a

: a motion, action, or movement of the hand by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known

made a sign for them to be quiet

b

: signal entry 1 sense 1

c

: sign language

2

: a mark having a generally understood meaning and used in place of words

3

: one of the 12 parts of the zodiac

4

a

: a symbol (as a flat or sharp) used in musical notation

b

: a symbol (as ÷ or √‾) indicating a mathematical operation

also : one of two symbols + and − characterizing a number as positive or negative

5

: a public notice that advertises something or gives information

6

a

: something that indicates what is present or is to come

no sign of life

first signs of spring

b

: something that provides evidence of plant or animal disease

sign

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to make or place a sign on

b

: to represent or indicate by a sign

2

: to write one's name on to show that one accepts, agrees with, or is responsible for

sign a check

sign a letter

sign a contract

3

: to hire by getting to sign something (as a contract)

sign a new ball player

4

: to use sign language

signee

ˌsī-ˈnē 

noun

signer noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English signe "a gesture that conveys a thought or command," from early French signe (same meaning), from Latin signum "mark, sign, image" — related to designate, seal entry 3, signal entry 1, significant

Medical Definition

sign

noun

ˈsīn 

1

: one of a set of gestures used to represent language

2

: an objective evidence of disease especially as observed and interpreted by the physician rather than by the patient or lay observer

narrow retinal vessels are a sign of arteriosclerosis

see brudzinski sign, chvostek's sign, homans' sign, kernig sign, physical sign, placental sign, romberg's sign, tinel's sign, vital signs, von graefe's sign compare symptom

Legal Definition

sign

transitive verb

1

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

sign a bill into law

specifically : to write or mark something (as a signature) on (a document) as an acknowledgment of one's intention to be bound by it

2

: to assign or convey formally

signed the property over to his brother

signer noun