signify

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verb sig·ni·fy \ ˈsig-nə-ˌfī \

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

Which is to say: With the right personnel in place, Trump’s sound and fury could be made to signify nothing — or, at least, not very much.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump May Be More Dangerous Than His Handlers Realized," 28 Aug. 2017
The win over Arrowhead also signifies that Muskego is a Classic 8 title contender.

— andrew gruman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Five Takeaways: Muskego 59, Arrowhead 14," 24 Aug. 2017
In addition, college should signify the beginning of the end of the financial relationship between students and their parents.

— peter dunn, Indianapolis Star, "Pete the Planner: Difficult college tuition conversations are crucial," 16 Aug. 2017
But Jr.’s retirement signifies more than just the end of their story.

— eden laase, SI.com, "Who's Got Next? With Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Retirement, NASCAR Needs a New Face," 10 Aug. 2017
Australians rarely experiences thundersnow, a phenomenon that signifies rapid intensification of a storm system.

— greg porter, Washington Post, "Weather by the numbers: Tulsa slammed, Europe baked, Australia buried, New Orleans engulfed," 10 Aug. 2017
Days after the attack, Trump ordered the launch of 59 tomahawk missiles at a Syrian air base, signifying the nation’s first military operation against an Arab government since 2011.

— aria bendix, The Atlantic, "U.S. and Russia Agree to Cease-Fire in Syria," 7 July 2017
Those three numbers signify the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in the fertilizer, in that order.

— roy berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "How to Mulch Leaves With a Lawn Mower," 7 July 2017
Parents will give the eighth graders beaded necklaces signifying their clans and the younger students will give them presents.

— kate taylor, New York Times, "School Board Decisions Spur Onondaga Nation Protest," 28 June 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

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signify Synonyms

Synonyms

count, import, mean, matter, weigh

Related Words

affect, concern, influence, sway; add up (to), amount (to)

SIGNIFY Defined for English Language Learners

signify

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verb

Definition of signify for English Language Learners

: to be a sign of (something) : to mean (something)
: to show (your feelings, intentions, opinions, etc.) by doing something
: to have importance

SIGNIFY Defined for Kids

signify

play

verb sig·ni·fy \ ˈsig-nə-ˌfī \

Definition of signify for Students

signified; signifying

1 :¹mean 1, denote

A check mark signifies a correct answer.

2 :to show especially by a sign :make known

She nodded to signify agreement.

3 :to have importance :matter

“It doesn't signify what you THINK … Facts is facts.”
—Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

Learn More about signify

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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Origin and Etymology of signify

signify Synonyms

Synonyms

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SIGNIFY Defined for English Language Learners

signify

Definition of signify for English Language Learners

SIGNIFY Defined for Kids

signify

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