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2
as in gesture
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling
quietly waiting for the signal to advance
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement
the Louisiana Purchase is cited by many historians as one of the most signal events in American history
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of signal
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
Some of those signals include usage patterns over time, how long an account has existed, the typical times of day a user is active and the user’s stated age.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Jan. 2026
Ball certainly didn’t have any issue getting into the action, posting a team-best 11 first-quarter points on the strength of making his first three attempts and banking in a running 3-pointer off the glass at the buzzer, signaling the conclusion of the game’s initial 12 minutes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for signal
Noun
The new chip, capable of controlling light signals at extremely high speeds with almost no losses, could reportedly speed up the transition of quantum photonics from laboratory experiments to practical, large-scale technologies.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
Some of those signals include usage patterns over time, how long an account has existed, the typical times of day a user is active and the user’s stated age.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Consumers’ demand and its success signaled to the brand that its community was seeking out elevated and design-forward styles to shop, encouraging Alo to further explore that direction.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Jan. 2026
Ball certainly didn’t have any issue getting into the action, posting a team-best 11 first-quarter points on the strength of making his first three attempts and banking in a running 3-pointer off the glass at the buzzer, signaling the conclusion of the game’s initial 12 minutes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for signal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signal
Noun
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The fleet is a compilation of aging vessels and tankers owned by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries, and sailing under flags from such countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
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Then the president’s team launched a false-flag cyberattack on electricity infrastructure and pinned it on North Korea.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But the gesture may be more symbolic than practical, since the ordinance could be difficult to enforce if passed, according to the county’s attorney.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
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This is a childhood that had all its ordinariness burned out of it by the linking of even seemingly trivial gestures (an offering of candy, a bath, a swim, the dust in a corner of a room) to an entire array of physical and mental agonies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mims motioned from the right slot to outside on the left.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
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After the Packers motioned and right before the snap, Booker slanted inside and Brisker went outside.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Directors Guild of America has named the nominees for its 2025 awards in the outstanding directorial achievement in television, commercials and documentary categories.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
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The Hollywood Reporter snagged a nomination again for outstanding magazine overall coverage in a list that also includes The Advocate, Cosmo, Gaye Magazine, Out, People, Poz, Rolling Stone, Time and Variety.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Speaking with reporters before heading to Switzerland, the president showed no sign of softening his approach to the Greenland issue.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Phillips appeared a few times, but there was no sign of volunteers present or brown bag meals, images Hunger Busters has presented on social media accounts.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Demonstrators waved signs, chanted in English and Spanish and danced to music from portable speakers.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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Good, in the driver’s seat, waves cars past her.—
Frank Matt,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Chau is a distinguished senior scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, one of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Now a distinguished professor emeritus in the department of psychological sciences at Purdue University, Williams has spent decades studying social exclusion and rejection.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Brodie was a two-time Pro Bowler and won the 49ers’ prestigious Len Eshmont Award in 1965 for inspirational and courageous play.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
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And the higher, more prestigious your target, the more bringing them down, or trying to, sends a message to everybody else.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Signal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signal. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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