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

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 Turbidity currents broke telegraph cables after Grand Banks, Fritz points out. — Rob Goodier, Popular Mechanics, "How Climate Change Could Break the Internet," 19 July 2018 The colonial powers had strong telegraph systems all over the world, in India, China, Africa, North America. — Fox News, "What threats face America's electrical grid?," 23 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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 Warren’s effort to address questions about her ancestry and the release of the video are her latest moves telegraphing a likely presidential run in 2020. — Bob Salsberg, The Seattle Times, "Sen. Warren: DNA test shows I have Native American heritage," 15 Oct. 2018 Regulators in the Obama administration also wanted to recalibrate the leverage ratio, but the proposals under Mr. Quarles’ watch go beyond what his predecessors telegraphed. — Ryan Tracy, WSJ, "A Simple Rule Has Constrained Bankers’ Freedom. Now It Is Getting ‘Retooled’," 7 May 2018

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.