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
Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Politicians use macho displays to assert dominance and not-so-subtly telegraph nostalgia for the old days.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
About 30 years ago, American Telephone and Telegraph ended its telegraph services.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
Gisborne needed financing for a project that would extend North America’s existing telegraph system from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
The stated purpose of that expedition was to lay telegraph lines, but Kennan was actually motivated by the same thing that drove so many Victorian explorers: fragile masculinity.
—W. M. Akers, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2023
New York’s mayor ordered that all overhead telephone and telegraph wires be removed by utility companies and placed in underground conduits.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
In 1858, the New York Times expressed concerns that the telegraph was leading to a decline in writing standards, as the necessity for brief and concise communication led to widespread abbreviation in writing.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In other words, the nude, with all its art-historical baggage, is an efficient means for artists to telegraph how their own perspective is distinct from that of their peers and predecessors.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Military officials declined to answer questions from The Washington Post about where the pier will be located and what security measures will be taken, citing a desire not to telegraph its plans.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
However, Gomez is sometimes guilty of telegraphing a moment, rather than feeling entirely natural in her choices.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024
The White House has telegraphed that Biden will embrace aggressive policy proposals — taxing the wealthy, for instance, and reining in prescription drug prices for seniors — in his State of the Union on Thursday.
—Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
While the large round of cuts in January 2023 was telegraphed by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, this year’s reductions have been communicated by lower-level leaders, such as vice presidents and human resources, according to a current employee and a former worker.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Her eyes, framed for the majority of her screentime by her niqab, are extraordinary, telegraphing worlds of emotion, running the gamut from trauma and vulnerability to something more sinister.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024
As President Biden delivers the night’s main message, every member of Congress hopes to telegraph one of their own with the one guest each gets to invite.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Secretary of War Stanton dispatches messengers to go to the telegraph office near the White House and alert the nation that John Wilkes Booth has assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Politicians use macho displays to assert dominance and not-so-subtly telegraph nostalgia for the old days.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
About 30 years ago, American Telephone and Telegraph ended its telegraph services.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
Gisborne needed financing for a project that would extend North America’s existing telegraph system from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
The stated purpose of that expedition was to lay telegraph lines, but Kennan was actually motivated by the same thing that drove so many Victorian explorers: fragile masculinity.
—W. M. Akers, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2023
New York’s mayor ordered that all overhead telephone and telegraph wires be removed by utility companies and placed in underground conduits.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
In 1858, the New York Times expressed concerns that the telegraph was leading to a decline in writing standards, as the necessity for brief and concise communication led to widespread abbreviation in writing.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
Verb
In August 2022, DeSantis telegraphed that Florida might help move migrants from the US-Mexico border – but not from his state.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In other words, the nude, with all its art-historical baggage, is an efficient means for artists to telegraph how their own perspective is distinct from that of their peers and predecessors.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Military officials declined to answer questions from The Washington Post about where the pier will be located and what security measures will be taken, citing a desire not to telegraph its plans.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
However, Gomez is sometimes guilty of telegraphing a moment, rather than feeling entirely natural in her choices.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024
The White House has telegraphed that Biden will embrace aggressive policy proposals — taxing the wealthy, for instance, and reining in prescription drug prices for seniors — in his State of the Union on Thursday.
—Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
While the large round of cuts in January 2023 was telegraphed by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, this year’s reductions have been communicated by lower-level leaders, such as vice presidents and human resources, according to a current employee and a former worker.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Her eyes, framed for the majority of her screentime by her niqab, are extraordinary, telegraphing worlds of emotion, running the gamut from trauma and vulnerability to something more sinister.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024
As President Biden delivers the night’s main message, every member of Congress hopes to telegraph one of their own with the one guest each gets to invite.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telegraph.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing telegraph
Articles Related to telegraph
Dictionary Entries Near telegraph
Cite this Entry
“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on telegraph
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for telegraph
Nglish: Translation of telegraph for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of telegraph for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about telegraph
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