Definition of signify
signified
;signifying
transitive verb
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
People Are Reading
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
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Two-time recipient of the Andy Kerr Award signifying Colgate's MVP (1982-83).
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The flag’s blue half-circle represents Bellingham Bay and the two stars signify the Nooksack Indian Tribe and the Lummi Nation, according to Lockhart’s description on his website.
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Related For example, if the government corrects a previous release and says the unemployment rate was actually lower, that could signify the economy is doing well.
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Backyard gardens are nothing new, but using them to address the wider problem of food insecurity would signify a return to our roots as an agrarian society, a time when farmers and families looked out for one another.
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The decision to hear the case could signify that some of the Supreme Court's more conservative justices believe Ohio and other states have a right to purge voters for not voting in several successive elections.
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Bronze stars were for exceptional valor and oak leaf clusters signified the person had sustained serious combat wounds.
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Exactly a half-hour later, the ringing of a bell signified the end of the private encounter.
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A brand signifies a consistent customer experience.
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".
Origin and Etymology of signify
Middle English signifien, from Anglo-French signifier, from Latin significare to indicate, signify, from signum sign
First Known Use: 13th century
SIGNIFY Defined for English Language Learners
signify
playDefinition of signify for English Language Learners
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: to be a sign of (something) : to mean (something)
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: to show (your feelings, intentions, opinions, etc.) by doing something
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: to have importance
SIGNIFY Defined for Kids
Learn More about signify
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See words that rhyme with signify Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for signify Spanish Central: Translation of signify Nglish: Translation of signify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of signify for Arabic speakers
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