sign

[ sahyn ]

noun

1. an indication or piece of evidence:

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

   Synonyms: signal, suggestion, hint, trace

2. any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that is taken as conveying a meaning:

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

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

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

   The dollar sign ($) can be found on your keyboard above the numeral 4.

4. a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc.:

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

   Synonyms: signal

5. a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view:

   a traffic sign;

   a store sign.

6. a trace; vestige:

   I looked in my car for your glasses, but there was no sign of them.

7. an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc.:

   Notice the repeat sign at the end of that bar.

8. Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.
9. any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.
10. an omen; portent:

    The general unrest was a sign of the approaching revolution.

    Synonyms: augury, hint, indication

11. sign of the zodiac ( def ).
12. sign language ( def 1 ).
13. Usually signs. traces, such as footprints or scat, of a wild animal.
14. Mathematics.
    1. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
    2. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
    3. multiplication sign.
    4. division sign.
    5. a symbol, such as  or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.
15. Semiotics. a symbol, object, or action together with the meaning given to it. signified ( def ), signifier ( def 2 ).

verb (used with object)

1. to affix a signature to:

   to sign a letter.

2. to write as a signature:

   to sign one's name.

3. to engage or hire by a written agreement:

   to sign a new player.

4. to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross.
5. to communicate by means of a sign; signal:

   He signed his wish to leave by an impatient wave of his hand.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to write one's signature as an expression of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc.:

   Someone will have to be here to sign for the package.

2. to communicate by a gesture or signal:

   He signed to her to go away.

3. to employ a sign language for communication.
4. to indicate one’s acceptance of a contract by a signature:

   He signed with another team for the next season.

verb phrase

1. 1. to indicate one's approval:

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

   2. to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.
   3. to withdraw from a responsibility or connection.
   4. Informal. to end a conversation, especially on the phone or online:

      It's been good talking to you—I'm going to sign off and get back to work.

2. 1. to record or authorize one's arrival by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device.
   2. Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information:

      Go to the Members page and sign in with your username and password.

3. 1. to engage (a worker, client, etc.) by a contract:

      We’ve signed on three new retailers to distribute the product.

   2. to commit oneself to a job or other activity by signing a contract:

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

   3. to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
   4. Digital Technology. to log in to an account on a device or website by entering one’s identifying information.
   5. to express agreement or cooperation:

      It looks like both party leaders have signed on to the interest group's agenda.

4. to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document:

   She signed over her fortune to the church.

5. to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe:

   to sign up for the navy;

   to sign up for a class.

6. 1. to record or authorize one’s departure by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device:

      Residents of the halfway house must sign out at the office when leaving.

   2. to record that one is borrowing (a tool, file, book, etc.) by providing one's name and other requested information on a register, website, or digital device:

      We can sign out one of the canoes for a few hours and go exploring.

   3. Digital Technology. to log out of an account on a device or website:

      If using a library computer, be sure to sign out at the end of your session.

sign

/ saɪn /

noun

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

      a sign painter

4. an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc
5. maths logic
   1. any symbol indicating an operation

      a plus sign

      an implication sign

   2. the positivity or negativity of a number, quantity, or expression

      subtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression

6. an indication or vestige

   the house showed no signs of being occupied

7. a portentous or significant event
8. an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal
9. med any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder Compare symptom
10. astrology Compare sign of the zodiac

verb

1. to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc
2. introften foll byto to make a sign; signal
3. to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc
4. tr to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross
5. tr to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken
6. intr to use sign language

sign

/ sīn /

1. A body manifestation, usually detected on physical examination or through laboratory tests or xrays, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
2. Compare symptom
3. See symbol
4. See Table at symbol

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 sign¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun signe, sign, from Old French and Latin signum “mark, sign, ensign, signal, image”; verb ultimately from the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sign¹

C13: from Old French signe, from Latin signum a sign

Idioms and Phrases

• high sign
• show signs of

Synonym Study

Sign, omen, portent name that which gives evidence of a future event. Sign is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event—past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An omen is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. Portent, limited, like omen, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.

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.

From Washington Post

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

From MIT Technology Review

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

From Washington Post

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.

From Washington Post

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.

From Washington Post

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confirm
• endorse
• ink