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signal 1 of 3

noun

ˈsig-nᵊl How to pronounce signal (audio)
Definition of signalnext
1
as in flag
an object intended to give public notice or warning stop signs are signals for vehicles to come to a full stop—not suggestions for slowing down, as some drivers seem to think

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

signal

2 of 3

verb

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away

Synonyms & Similar Words

signal

3 of 3

adjective

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of signal
Noun
There’s more than just blackening bananas; electrodes embedded in the fruit transmit electrical signals into sound and light tones that constantly shift. — Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026 One of the tools that got at added to the retailer’s disposal is Dynamic Re-Ranking (DRR), which uses real-time click and conversion signals to identify trending products and automatically adjust their placement. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
The company postponed interest payments starting in 2025, signaling structural financial issues. — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 The same is true when the students hear the sputter and throttle of tuk-tuks outside, signaling that the tikiyya – a mobile communal food kitchen – has arrived. — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for signal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signal
  1. flag
  2. gesture
  3. motion
  4. outstanding
  5. sign
  6. wave
  7. distinguished
  8. prestigious
Noun
  • The welcome ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers, platoons from each military service, and a presentation of the flags and anthems of both countries.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The hot and dusty city streets were bathed in decorative green light to celebrate National Day, as hundreds of electronic billboards projected the sword and script of the Saudi flag, shown fluttering as if caught in a breeze.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of flag
Noun
  • More than 75 games are expected to support hand-gesture controls at launch, while Xbox Cloud Gaming will provide access to additional games.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
  • If there had been a homophobic or anti-woman gesture, there likely would have been a media uproar if a prominent athlete condoned it.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of gesture
Verb
  • Audience jeers council’s I-77 decision Mayfield, who serves council at-large, motioned to keep Charlotte from changing its previous vote against the toll lanes.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The 2022 ruling came after the defense motioned in 2020 to have Toshpuldzoda evaluated for mental health issues.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of motion
Adjective
  • By the middle of 2025, there were at least $188 trillion worth of bonds outstanding, according to the Bank for International Settlements.
    — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Buybacks reduce the number of shares outstanding, increasing the ownership stake of remaining shareholders and, all else equal, boosting earnings per share.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Noun
  • That’s a sign of how much the movie’s visual effects emanate directly from the imagination of the filmmaker.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Full Moon in your sign puts your identity, desires, and personal direction under a bright light, making old compromises harder to maintain automatically.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of sign
Verb
  • Last spring, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner waved from a city fire truck at the front of the annual gay Pride parade down Ocean Drive.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Crowds had gathered on the sidewalk across from the museum, many waving Chinese and American flags.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of wave
Adjective
  • Respini joined the institution three years ago as deputy director and director of curatorial programs after a distinguished tenure as chief curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Solange Knowles, sister of Beyoncé and a distinguished musician and artist in her own right, will unveil a large-scale sculpture on New York’s High Line as part of an event staged later this week by Google.
    — Andy Battaglia for ARTnews, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of distinguished
Adjective
  • An indefatigable editor at the prestigious Einaudi publishing house, his country’s chief translator and commenter on American literature, and a relentlessly productive writer, Pavese was at the center of Italian literary life.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Welcome to Harrow School, one of the most prestigious in the world.
    — Ashley Baker, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of prestigious

Browse Nearby Words

sign
signal
signaled
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Cite this Entry

“Signal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signal. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on signal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about signal

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