signify

verb sig·ni·fy \ ˈsig-nə-ˌfī \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: signify in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of signify

signified; signifying

transitive verb

1 a : to be a sign of : mean

b : imply

2 : to show especially by a conventional token (such as word, signal, or gesture)

intransitive verb

1 : to have significance : matter

it will not much signify what one wears
—Jane Austen

2 : to engage in signifying

See signify defined for English-language learners

See signify defined for kids

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 of signify from the Web

Being 360, said the investment signifies the organization’s prioritization of local farming, reducing childhood obesity and addressing social determinants of health.

— maya moore, courant.com, "KNOX's New Urban Greenhouse Doubles Space For Farmers, Produce," 11 June 2018
McNicholas became a transitional deacon, signifying he’s one year away from priesthood.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Diocese of Gary gains new priest, deacon," 2 June 2018
Wednesday's video release and press conference signifies the end of that investigation.

— CBS News, "Milwaukee police release body-cam video of arrest, tasing of NBA player Sterling Brown," 23 May 2018
Paul’s move to a more typical talk show format would seem to signify that the YouTube star is hoping to transition to a more traditional entertainment role, a perception bolstered by the presence of a producing figure like Purcell.

— megan farokhmanesh, The Verge, "Jake Paul is getting his own talk show on YouTube Red," 30 Mar. 2018
Yet, Tagovailoa’s MVP performance in that title game back in January seemed to signify a changing of the guard with the freshman seemingly the frontrunner to win the job in spring.

— matt murschel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Five storylines to watch in the SEC this spring," 26 Mar. 2018
For believers, relics of the martyrs signified the saints’ continuing their invisible presence among communities of pious Christians.

— lisa bitel, Smithsonian, "The Gory Origins of Valentine’s Day," 14 Feb. 2018
Reciting or singing the prayer and then taking a bite of the challah signifies the beginning of the meal.

— joan elovitz kazan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Holla for challah: Braided bread marries religious tradition with foodie favorite," 23 Jan. 2018
This time, Blake arrived at the mansion riding an ox, which was meant to signify the strength of his feelings (seriously).

— nick schwartz, For The Win, "Bachelorette Power Rankings: Did Becca eliminate the wrong guys in Week 1?," 29 May 2018

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

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".