telegraph

noun

tele·graph | \ ˈte-lə-ˌgraf

Definition of telegraph

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

telegraph

verb

telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs

Definition of telegraph (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from telegraph Example Sentences Learn More about telegraph

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Other Words from telegraph

Verb

telegrapher \ tə-ˈle-grə-fər

\ noun

telegraphist \ tə-ˈle-grə-fist

\ noun

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: Noun

For many of us, the phone call over the past few years has gone the way of the telegraph and the typewriter. — David Pierce, WSJ, "Phone Calls Are Dead. Voice Chat Is the Future.," 8 July 2018 The tension was also rooted in the history of the phone companies — which were born out of the telegraph era, when brevity was king. — Janelle Nanos, BostonGlobe.com, "Stop answering your phone," 6 Jan. 2018 After the first shots were fired, Scott organized rail and telegraph traffic on behalf of both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the government, and served a stint as assistant secretary of war. — Gregory Crouch, WSJ, "‘Civil War Barons’ Review: Entrepreneurs for the Union," 5 Nov. 2018 The invention of the telegraph before the Civil War meant that these warnings could be transmitted widely and quickly. — Brian Macquarrie, BostonGlobe.com, "Winter weather helped uncover a dark past on Gallops Island," 3 May 2018 The grandfather of one of my best friends helped lay the first telegraph line from Fort Worth to El Paso, contending with hostile Indians along the way. — WSJ, "Living Memories Have a Long Reach in Our Young Country," 7 Jan. 2019 Spring’s plethora of veils telegraph all kinds of associations. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "The Top 10 Accessories Trends of Spring 2019," 16 Oct. 2018 Modern scholars see many parallels between the telegraph of Cooley’s day and the Internet—an e-mail stored in a server is the modern version of a telegram. — Joseph O’neill, The New Yorker, "The Mail," 21 June 2018 Sweets laden with poppy seed telegraph Jewish heritage. — András Szántó, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why Budapest Is Europe's Unlikely Capital of Hedonism," 29 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The Fed has been raising short-term interest rates since December 2015 and for many months has telegraphed further increases. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, "Fed Officials See Strong Economy Justifying Interest Rate Rises," 11 Oct. 2018 Wilson telegraphs Charlotte’s growing unease with Faraday’s constant presence in the house and increasing influence over their lives. — Aja Romano, Vox, "How The Little Stranger uses its ghost story to mask a study in toxic masculinity," 6 Sep. 2018 But inflation hasn’t accelerated this year, giving Fed officials the ability to telegraph a slower pace of rate increases for 2019. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, "As Fed Begins Meeting, Trump Again Calls for No Rate Increase," 18 Dec. 2018 On Thursday, a birthday fund-raiser is being held for Leach in a Montgomery County pub — and the invitation telegraphs that a broad swath of the party and its financiers are standing behind him. — Chris Brennan, Philly.com, "The Democratic establishment is standing behind Daylin Leach after #MeToo allegations | Clout," 15 June 2018 The spotlight was on her message telegraphed by her T-shirt, which isn't unusual for the model. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "Gigi Hadid Wears Prabal Gurung's "Vote" T-Shirt Ahead of the Midterm Elections," 5 Nov. 2018 President Donald Trump telegraphed earlier Monday that that schedule might slow. — Lisa Mascaro, The Seattle Times, "Showdown between Kavanaugh, accuser scheduled for next week," 17 Sep. 2018 The president telegraphed -- told the American people during the campaign he's added a little bit to the list. — Fox News, "Senate fight awaits Trump's Supreme Court pick," 10 July 2018 The chancellor’s job listing, posted last year by search firm Isaacson, Miller, called for a strategist who could telegraph CUNY’s successes to the world, increase graduate numbers and position students for high-value careers. — Melissa Korn, WSJ, "CUNY Names Queens College President Félix Matos Rodríguez as Chancellor," 13 Feb. 2019

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