signify
verb
sig·ni·fy
ˈsig-nə-ˌfī 
signified; signifying
2
: to show especially by a conventional token (such as word, signal, or gesture)
1
: to have significance : matter
… it will not much signify what one wears …—
Jane Austen
Jane Austen2
: to engage in signifying
Did you know?
Signify basically means "to make a sign or signal". One of its synonyms is indicate; the index finger is the finger you point with, so to indicate is essentially to point to something. Significant means "important" and significance means "importance;" similarly, insignificant means "unimportant" and insignificance means "lack of importance".
Examples of signify in a Sentence
A check mark next to your name signifies that you have met all the requirements.
The recent decline of the stock market does not necessarily signify the start of a recession.
He gave her a diamond ring to signify his love.
Whether he agrees or not does not signify.
Recent Examples on the Web
But what does a $2 million watch signify for Blancpain?
—Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2025
In this way, the term mogging is used to signify a person who is superior, and the people admiring them as lesser or lower on the social hierarchy.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 Nov. 2025
In the Nile Valley there are hieroglyphs galore that signify weather systems; and, being invisible and inexplicable, wind is denoted by its effect rather than its reality.
—Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025
With Pluribus, the countdown and the countup are certainly a cool way to signify the before times and the after times.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for signify
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Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2025
In this way, the term mogging is used to signify a person who is superior, and the people admiring them as lesser or lower on the social hierarchy.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 Nov. 2025
In the Nile Valley there are hieroglyphs galore that signify weather systems; and, being invisible and inexplicable, wind is denoted by its effect rather than its reality.
—Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025
With Pluribus, the countdown and the countup are certainly a cool way to signify the before times and the after times.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for signify
Cite this Entry
“Signify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signify. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
signify
verb
sig·ni·fy
ˈsig-nə-ˌfī
signified; signifying
2
: to show especially by a sign : make known
signified their agreement by nodding
3
: to have importance : matter
doesn't signify much what you wear
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