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Definition of sign

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of sign  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

• gesticulation

sign , mark , token , note , symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible.

sign applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason.

mark suggests something impressed on or inherently characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance.

token applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible.

note suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic.

symptom suggests an outward indication of an internal change or condition.

Examples of sign in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English signe , from Anglo-French, from Latin signum mark, token, sign, image, seal; perhaps akin to Latin secare to cut — more at saw

Middle English, from Anglo-French signer , from Latin signare to mark, sign, seal, from signum

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing sign

• a sign of the times
• at the first sign
• Babinski sign
• Babinski's sign
• division sign
• dollar sign
• Indian sign
• lollipop sign
• multiplication sign
• negative sign
• number sign
• percent sign
• plus / minus sign
• radical sign
• show no sign / signs of
• sign into law
• sign language
• sign of aggregation
• sign of the cross
• sign one's own death warrant
• sign on the dotted line
• take (something) as a sign
• the sign of the cross
• warning sign

Articles Related to sign

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

When each letter can be seen but not heard

Dictionary Entries Near sign

sigmoid valve

Cite this Entry

“Sign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign. Accessed 20 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of sign.

Kids Definition of sign  (Entry 2 of 2)

Middle English signe "a gesture that conveys a thought or command," from early French signe (same meaning), from Latin signum "mark, sign, image" — related to designate , seal entry 3 , signal entry 1 , significant

Medical Definition

Medical definition of sign, legal definition, legal definition of sign, more from merriam-webster on sign.

Nglish: Translation of sign for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sign for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sign

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Meaning of sign in English

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sign verb ( WRITE )

• Getting the two leaders to sign a peace treaty was his greatest accomplishment .
• We can't sign the agreement yet - we'll have to play for time .
• He asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement when they got engaged .
• Can I nominate someone as a proxy to sign for me?
• Don't sign anything until you've read the small print .
• autographically
• co-signatory
• countersign
• John Hancock
• sign (something) off
• sign for something
• sign for/with someone
• sign something away
• the undersigned

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

sign verb ( BODY MOVEMENT )

• blow someone a kiss phrase
• flag something/someone down
• flip someone off
• flip/give someone the bird idiom
• non-linguistic
• non-verbally
• pump someone's hand idiom

Phrasal verbs

Sign noun [c] ( notice ).

• The sign by the roadwork said 'Slow - Construction vehicles entering '.
• The road sign points left .
• The sign on the gate said ' Private Property - No Admittance.'
• The sign on the wall said "Please refrain from smoking ."
• He hung a sign on the door of the store that said it would reopen at 11.
• advance notice
• advance warning
• advertisement
• aide-mémoire
• push notification
• the gory details idiom

sign noun [C] ( BODY MOVEMENT )

• She made a sign to the others to come in.
• The conductor gave a sign for them to play louder .
• He made a sign to them to stand up.
• He pulled a face as a sign that he thought Tommy was talking nonsense .
• He made a spiral sign with his hand to indicate that they should turn .

sign noun [C] ( SHOWING )

• Doug scanned the horizon for any sign of the boat .
• She searched his face for some sign of forgiveness , but it remained expressionless .
• The detectives searched the house from top to bottom , but they found no sign of the stolen goods .
• A common sign of dyslexia is that the sequencing of letters when spelling words may be incorrect .
• High rates of crime are considered by some people to be a sign of a sick society .
• breastbeating
• mark something out
• masterclass
• ostensively
• point ( something / someone ) out
• virtue signaling

sign noun [C] ( MARK )

• How do you write the euro sign?
• There was a percentage sign after the figure .
• Where is the degree sign on this keyboard ?
• challenge flag
• cryptanalyst
• iconographic
• iconographically
• iconography
• lagging indicator
• leading indicator
• the all-clear

sign | Intermediate English

Sign noun [c] ( public information ), sign noun [c] ( signal ), sign verb ( communicate ), sign | business english, examples of sign, translations of sign.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

hit the road

to leave a place or begin a journey

Searching out and tracking down: talking about finding or discovering things

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• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• sign (WRITE)
• sign (BODY MOVEMENT)
• sign (NOTICE)
• sign (SHOWING)
• sign (MARK)
• sign (PUBLIC INFORMATION)
• sign (SIGNAL)
• sign (COMMUNICATE)
• signed and sealed
• sign on the dotted line
• Translations
• All translations

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How to recognize when the universe gives you a sign (and make it happen more often).

We receive far more signs from the universe than we realize. As a professional intuitive, part of my job is to help people pick up on signs they might otherwise miss. These points will help you recognize the divine guidance you are missing as well as increase the number of signs you receive on a daily basis:

1. Ask for more signs.

Humans were gifted free will as a way to help co-create their journey here on earth, and in my book Angel Insights , I encourage people to think of themselves as powerful spiritual beings. Using your free will to ask for signs is a guaranteed way to receive more guidance, as the universe, in most cases, will respect many of your free will choices. Asking for signs is simple. You can write a short note to your spiritual guidance squad in your journal or briefly ask the universe for signs in your thoughts, prayers, or meditations. The universe is always listening!

2. Learn about signs.

Familiarize yourself with common signs or the ways the universe typically communicates with you. Spirit animals, numbers , synchronicities or meaningful coincidences, wise words from loved ones or even snippets of conversation overheard on the street, music, the four psychic clairs , and prophetic dreams are all common ways for the universe to send you guidance. You can become a seasoned sign connoisseur!

3. Acknowledge the signs.

Write about the signs you receive in your journal, ponder them in the shower, or talk about them with a trusted friend, partner, or roommate. When the universe sees a sign registered with you, it will know that you are becoming more open to guidance and send more guidance. Remember that you receive more signs than you think, so if something feels like a sign to you, it probably is. A good rule of thumb is to notice how the sign registers with you—does time seem to slow down, does the moment feel heavy with meaning, or do you get a physical reaction when the sign comes (like chills on your body)? If the sign keeps popping up in your thoughts hours or even days afterward, it’s definitely something to pay attention to.

4. Interpret the signs.

Find the initial meaning and let the sign sit on you for a few days to discern even more or deeper meanings. This is something I recommend people do with oracle cards . I sometimes use oracle cards for a small portion of my sessions with clients. When I turn a card over, I will receive a strong initial message about what this card means for my client, and then a few more messages will float in. Seeing a message on a billboard or book cover that speaks to you might trigger a few epiphanies. Signs can be full of layered meaning.

5. Act on the signs.

Guidance from the universe always increases when we take appropriate action steps after experiencing a sign. Humans are like action heroes. The universe loves it when we take action steps to co-create our reality. This is why if we take one step toward our dreams, our dreams seem to take 10 steps toward us . Signs are meant to make us change our attitude, perspective, or decisions, so when you receive a sign, notice how it is asking you to change.

What do you do once you receive a sign? Here's how to surrender to diving timing .

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The smoke curling from the chimney was a sign that someone was in the cabin.

Synonyms: signal , suggestion , hint , trace

I took her silence and fidgeting as a sign of disagreement.

Rising sales of disaster survival kits are a sign of the times.

• a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.

Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.

Synonyms: signal

a traffic sign;

a store sign.

There wasn't a sign of them.

• an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc.
• Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.
• any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language .

The general unrest was a sign of the approaching revolution.

Synonyms: augury , hint , indication

• sign of the zodiac .
• sign language ( def 1 ) .
• Usually signs. traces, such as footprints or scat , of a wild animal.
• a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
• a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
• multiplication sign .
• division sign .
• a symbol, as  or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.

verb (used with object)

to sign a letter.

to sign one's name.

to sign a new player.

• to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross .

He signed his wish to leave.

• to convey (a message) in a sign language .
• Obsolete. to direct or appoint by a sign.

verb (used without object)

to sign for a package.

He signed to her to go away.

• to employ a sign language for communication.

He signed with another team for the next season.

verb phrase

to sign up for the navy;

to sign up for class.

She signed over her fortune to the church.

• to record or authorize one's arrival (or departure) by signing a register. Also sign out.
• to employ; hire.

He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.

• to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
• Computers. log 1 ( def 18a ) .
• to withdraw, as from some responsibility or connection.
• to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.

He had exhausted conversation topics and signed off.

The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.

• something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable
• an action or gesture intended to convey information, a command, etc
• a board, placard, etc, displayed in public and inscribed with words or designs intended to inform, warn, etc

a sign painter

• an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc

a plus sign

an implication sign

subtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression

the house showed no signs of being occupied

• a portentous or significant event
• an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal
• med any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder Compare symptom
• astrology Compare sign of the zodiac
• to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc
• introften foll byto to make a sign; signal
• to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc
• tr to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross
• tr to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken
• intr to use sign language
• A body manifestation, usually detected on physical examination or through laboratory tests or xrays, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
• Compare symptom
• See Table at symbol

Discover More

Derived forms.

• ˈsignable , adjective

Other Words From

• sign·less adjective
• sign·like adjective
• post·sign verb (used with object)
• un·signed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sign 1

Idioms and Phrases

• show signs of

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

It’s the most precaution Valderruten has taken before a first date, and it’s a sign of how much the singles scene has changed in the past year.

The fact that I was even thinking that was a sign of how you start doubting your whole reality.

The stormy pattern shows no signs of stopping, with four more chances for wintry precipitation over the next week.

Senior aides to the impeachment managers’ team claim they are seeing signs that some Republicans may be wavering and might be convinced to vote for a conviction.

In a true sign that the Politico of 2021 is not the Politico of, say, 2008, the Playbook crew didn’t publish the story 30 seconds after asking for comment.

They are always suspended over a precipice, dangling by a slender thread that shows every sign of snapping.

It was hard not to take it as a sign, a personal comment on my own Jewish dating failings.

If he did, it could be a sign that our politicians are ready to resume genuine policy-making across party lines.

President Harry Truman kept a sign on his desk that read: “The Buck Stops Here.”

Even then, most of us doubted he would show up and actually sign the papers allowing him to enter the 1992 New Hampshire primary.

Its continued presence in pulmonary tuberculosis is, however, a grave prognostic sign, even when the physical signs are slight.

Idly his pen traced upon the paper in front of him a large X, the sign of the unknown quantity.

Here they are seldom abundant, but their constant presence is the most reliable urinary sign of the disease.

Waxy casts are found in most advanced cases of nephritis, where they are an unfavorable sign.

Scouts reported that Porter still occupied his camp, and showed no sign of moving.

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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• Writing Tips

When to Use the At Symbol (@) in Writing

4-minute read

• 11th December 2019

In an age of email, you might see the “at symbol” (or “at sign”) every day. But where does this symbol come from? And when should you use this symbol in your writing ? In this post, we take a look at the following:

• The commercial use of @ to mean “at a rate of”
• How it is used in email and social media
• Other uses, including in computing and the sciences
• When you should use @ in your work (and when to write “at” instead)

Check out our advice below to make sure your writing is always error free!

Using @ in Place of “At”

In English, the symbol @ had traditionally meant “at” or “at a rate of.” For a long time, it has therefore been used to indicate price per unit in commercial contexts, such as on an invoice. For instance:

5 bottles of wine @ $7 per bottle = $35

The origins of using @ to mean “at” are lost in time, but it may come from Venetian merchants or medieval monks. Regardless, this is why most people pronounce @ as “at” in English today! And you may still find it used commercially, such as on a market stall, although this is rarer than it once was.

More commonly, you’ll now see @ used in place of “at” online or in txtspk (e.g., c u @ 5 = see you at five ). This is, of course, very informal!

But what else do we use @ for in modern writing? It’s time to talk about email.

Email and Social Media

The most common place to see the at symbol these days is in an email address, such as [email protected] . We can trace this use to the very first email, whose sender chose “the at sign to indicate that the [recipient] was ‘at’ some other host rather than being local.”

In other words, just like @ can show that a product is being sold “at” a certain price per unit, the @ in an email tells us the recipient is “at” a certain domain. And we say “at” when we read this out loud.

Since then, we’ve seen this same @ appear on social media. Most famously, Twitter uses the @ symbol at the start of usernames. But you can also use it to contact or tag other users on Facebook and other platforms.

In most modern cases, then, we use “@” in relation to email or social media.

Find this useful?

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Technical Uses: Scientific Writing and Computing

You might also see the at sign in writing from the sciences or computing. The uses of this symbol in these contexts include:

• Scientific Writing – In technical and scientific writing, the at sign is sometimes used to indicate the conditions under which something was measured (e.g., 1.543 ml @ 34°C = “a measurement of 1.543 ml taken at 34°C”). It can also denote a trapped atom in a chemical formula. And it can be used in place of the word “locus” in genetics (e.g., IGL@ ).
• Computing – The at sign is used in computing languages such as CSS and Java. Different languages use the symbol differently, so you will need to look up the language in question if you want to know what an @ means.

These uses are very specific to their fields, though, so you won’t come across them often unless you work in the sciences or computing.

The At Symbol in Sports

One more use of @ is to denote the home team in US sports. For example:

Friday November 1: Washington Periods @ London Full Stops

This would mean Washington were playing at the home venue of the London Full Stops. However, this is rare outside American English. In British English, for instance, it is standard to just put the home team first .

Should I Use the At Symbol in My Writing?

This all depends on the context! If you are simply messaging a friend, it is fine to use the @ symbol in place of the word “at.” The same is true of most informal writing, as long as your meaning is clear.

However, you would only usually use the @ symbol in formal writing if:

• You are writing an email address or someone’s social media handle.
• It has a technical or scientific use in your document (e.g., trapped atoms).

But you should never use @ as short for “at” in formal writing . And it is usually better to say “at” in semi-formal writing (e.g., marketing materials or work emails). “At” is only one more character to type, after all!

And if you want to be extra sure your writing is clear, concise and error free, why not try our outstanding proofreading services today?

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THIS in sign language

How to sign "this" in American Sign Language (ASL)?

ASL signs for THIS

Meaning: Used to identify a specific person or thing close at hand or being indicated or experienced; referring to a specific thing or situation just mentioned.

This sign (pointing to the base palm) is a formal citation as a standalone word, but in reality, it's rarely used in signing.

This/it (a determiner in ASL). This determiner is locative, which means that in sentences, spatial reference is variable.

A common determiner in ASL signing is the handshape "Y" for either "this" or "that". And, the other common sign is "THAT-ONE" (a gloss that it's not really "ONE").

A gloss symbol for "ONE" is IX (indexing).

" This -- Simply point to an imaginary object near you. For 'These' point to several imaginary objects." (1910) Ref

Related signs: that .

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~~ Feeling lucky? ¯\__(°_o)__/¯ Random Word ~~

Search/Filter : Enter a keyword in the filter/search box to see a list of available words with the "All" selection. Click on the page number if needed. Click on the blue link to look up the word. For best result, enter a partial word to see variations of the word.

Alphabetical letters : It's useful for 1) a single-letter word (such as A, B, etc.) and 2) very short words (e.g. "to", "he", etc.) to narrow down the words and pages in the list.

For best result, enter a short word in the search box, then select the alphetical letter (and page number if needed), and click on the blue link.

Don't forget to click "All" back when you search another word with a different initial letter.

If you cannot find (perhaps overlook) a word but you can still see a list of links, then keep looking until the links disappear! Sharpening your eye or maybe refine your alphabetical index skill. :)

Add a Word : This dictionary is not exhaustive; ASL signs are constantly added to the dictionary. If you don't find a word/sign, you can send your request (only if a single link doesn't show in the result).

Videos : The first video may be NOT the answer you're looking for. There are several signs for different meanings, contexts, and/or variations. Browsing all the way down to the next search box is highly recommended.

Video speed : Signing too fast in the videos? See HELP in the footer.

ASL has its own grammar and structure in sentences that works differently from English. For plurals, verb inflections, word order, etc., learn grammar in the "ASL Learn" section. For search in the dictionary, use the present-time verbs and base words. If you look for "said", look up the word "say". Likewise, if you look for an adjective word, try the noun or vice versa. E.g. The ASL signs for French and France are the same. If you look for a plural word, use a singular word.

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• Computers and Electronics

Use Your Keyboard to Type Symbols: Alt Key + More

Last Updated: November 28, 2023 Fact Checked

Using Windows

Using linux & chromebook.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,594,342 times. Learn more...

Do you want to type symbols with your keyboard on Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook? These are specifically known as "Alt Codes" and you can use them on almost any computer or laptop! This wikiHow article teaches you how to type symbols using the "Alt" key on your keyboard.

Alt Key Symbol Cheat Sheets

Things You Should Know

• Pressing the "Alt" key while typing a code on the number pad on Windows results in a special character.
• Press the "Opt" key on Mac to find special characters like the "Alt" key on Windows.
• On Linux and Chromebooks, you can press Ctrl + Shift + U to type any Unicode character, as long as the font you're typing it in supports it.

• Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
• Click the "Keyboard" option and then check "Show viewers for keyboard, emoji, and symbols in menu bar."
• Click the viewer icon that appears in the menu bar and select "Show Emoji & Symbols."
• Browse through the categories of symbols and double-click the one you want to insert.

Community Q&A

• If the Windows Alt code includes zeros, you must input them. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you have no numeric keypad, on Windows 10, you can use the on-screen keyboard (OSK) - hit Ctrl + ⊞ Win + O to open it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

• Alt codes only work with programs that accept an ASCII input. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.alt-codes.net/currency-symbols
• ↑ http://reeddesign.co.uk/pdf/WindowsAltCodes.pdf
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-ascii-or-unicode-latin-based-symbols-and-characters-d13f58d3-7bcb-44a7-a4d5-972ee12e50e0
• ↑ https://usefulshortcuts.com/alt-codes/bullet-alt-codes.php
• ↑ http://www.chriswrites.com/how-to-type-common-symbols-and-special-characters-in-os-x/

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