tele·graph
ˈte-lə-ˌgraf 
1
: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals
especially
: an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire
2
: telegram
telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs
1
a
: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph
b
: to send a telegram to
c
: to send by means of a telegraphic order
2
: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance
Examples of telegraph in a Sentence
Noun
I sent the message by telegraph.
Verb
He telegraphed a message to her.
Please telegraph when you get there.
Please telegraph me when you get there.
The look on her face telegraphed bad news.
He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
Electric telegraph lines and railroads encouraged and were encouraged by a new age of imperial expansion, commodity extraction, industrialization, urban growth, global migration, rising population, and scientific development, among other things.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
The worry among producers is that the drama from the contest was becoming sapped because the winner was easily telegraphed before the challenge would even begin.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telegraph
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Noun
The leap from telegraph to telephone Before this breakthrough, the telegraph reigned as the dominant means of rapid long-distance communication.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
Electric telegraph lines and railroads encouraged and were encouraged by a new age of imperial expansion, commodity extraction, industrialization, urban growth, global migration, rising population, and scientific development, among other things.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Ninety-two percent of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 88% of independents telegraphed opposition to clemency.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
The worry among producers is that the drama from the contest was becoming sapped because the winner was easily telegraphed before the challenge would even begin.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telegraph
Cite this Entry
“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
telegraph
1 of 2 noun
tele·graph
ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires
telegraphic
adjective
ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik
telegraphically
adverb
-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē
telegraph
2 of 2 verb1
: to send by or as if by telegraph
telegraphed a message
2
: to send a telegram to
telegraphed home for money
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