1
as in flags
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
Relevance
2
as in gestures
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 motions
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
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of signals
Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The two resulting signals are subtracted from each other to deliver the pure EPR signal—no speed-limiting feedback loop needed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
There is still no foolproof way to know whether someone is lying about their age, but Meta is using AI to look for signals that a user may be under 18 and place those accounts into teen safety settings.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The early signals out of other host cities point in a clear direction.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
The chemical also blocked the repair signals that the brain usually sends out after experiencing physical trauma.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
With inflation markers, geopolitical pressures, and other economic factors sending mixed signals, our data has found that banks and credit unions are taking a more measured approach.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
It is almost always preceded by signals that, in hindsight, feel painfully clear.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Distraction, mixed signals and loving attention more than intimacy are all very Venus in Gemini.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
In a sign of supreme confidence, management raised full-year capex guidance to as much as $190 billion — a jaw-dropping figure that signals Alphabet is playing for generational dominance, not quarterly optics.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Mason retains full ownership of the show while continuing his full-time job at CBS News — an unprecedented arrangement that signals how networks may retain talent in the streaming era.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The introduction of new younger characters, presumably designed to help guide children through Stoller’s already simplified narrative, signals a desire for intergenerational accessibility.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
For a city the size of Quebec, that density of recognition signals a food scene punching well above its weight, and worth building at least one big dinner reservation around.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
These artists’ success signals a growing appetite abroad for Asian entertainment – most evident in the popularity of K-pop, with megastar groups like BTS and Blackpink drawing in Western audiences while blending contemporary beats with traditional Korean culture.
—Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
That speed signals urgency in countering evolving maritime threats.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
Fiber-optic drones are not piloted via, for example, GPS signals or radio control.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The two resulting signals are subtracted from each other to deliver the pure EPR signal—no speed-limiting feedback loop needed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
There is still no foolproof way to know whether someone is lying about their age, but Meta is using AI to look for signals that a user may be under 18 and place those accounts into teen safety settings.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The early signals out of other host cities point in a clear direction.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
The chemical also blocked the repair signals that the brain usually sends out after experiencing physical trauma.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
With inflation markers, geopolitical pressures, and other economic factors sending mixed signals, our data has found that banks and credit unions are taking a more measured approach.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
It is almost always preceded by signals that, in hindsight, feel painfully clear.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Distraction, mixed signals and loving attention more than intimacy are all very Venus in Gemini.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
This elliptical, enigmatic sentence, with its palindromic form (not unlike that of the Heart Sutra), signals the main thrust of Pau’s work, which employs structures of looping, repetition, and recursion to explore the space of ambiguity and uncertainty.
—Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
In a sign of supreme confidence, management raised full-year capex guidance to as much as $190 billion — a jaw-dropping figure that signals Alphabet is playing for generational dominance, not quarterly optics.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Mason retains full ownership of the show while continuing his full-time job at CBS News — an unprecedented arrangement that signals how networks may retain talent in the streaming era.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The introduction of new younger characters, presumably designed to help guide children through Stoller’s already simplified narrative, signals a desire for intergenerational accessibility.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
For a city the size of Quebec, that density of recognition signals a food scene punching well above its weight, and worth building at least one big dinner reservation around.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
These artists’ success signals a growing appetite abroad for Asian entertainment – most evident in the popularity of K-pop, with megastar groups like BTS and Blackpink drawing in Western audiences while blending contemporary beats with traditional Korean culture.
—Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
That speed signals urgency in countering evolving maritime threats.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signals
Noun
-
The demonstrators also waved Iran and Palestine flags as the rain came down and dinner attendees walked into the hotel.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The flags that typically stand behind the podium when the President speaks were hastily brought in.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This includes the importance of gestures such as going to retrieve from the family casket a pin that reproduces the British and American flags together, as well as those that actually fly on the streets of Washington.—
Giorgia Olivieri,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The high five is one of the most universal gestures in sports.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With most dogs showing signs of dental disease by age three, simple, low-effort solutions are gaining traction among pet owners looking for consistency without adding complexity.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Sources with knowledge of the case previously told Fox News Digital there were no signs of a struggle inside.—
Michael Ruiz , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar waves a Hungarian flag after delivering his victory speech in Budapest on Sunday.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of the video, Williams proposes to Laufey as her guest stars watch on with vacant expressions — even as the Grammy winner waves her hands in front of their faces.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Signals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signals. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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