sign

Fetched 2026-11-03 (live).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

Noun

1. A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
   • Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
   • Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
   • Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
   • "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
   • Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
2. An omen.
   • "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
3. A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
   • Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
4. A mark or another symbol used to represent something.
   • The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
   • I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
5. Physical evidence left by an animal.
   • The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
6. A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
   • The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
   • I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
7. A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
8. An astrological sign.
   • Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
9. Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
   • I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
10. A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
11. Sign language in general.
    • Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
12. A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept.
13. A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.

Verb

1. To make a mark To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
   • The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
   • I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
   • Just sign your name at the bottom there.
   • I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
   • Please sign on the dotted line.
   • It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
2. To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
   • The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
3. To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
4. To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
5. More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
   • I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
6. To write (one's name) as a signature.
   • Just sign your name at the bottom there.
   • I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
7. To write one's signature.
   • Please sign on the dotted line.
8. To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
9. To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
   • It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
10. To make the sign of the cross To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross. To cross oneself.
11. To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
12. To cross oneself.
13. To indicate To communicate using a gesture or signal. To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign. To communicate using gestures to (someone).
    • He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
14. To communicate using a gesture or signal.
15. To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
16. To communicate using gestures to (someone).
    • He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
17. To use sign language.
18. To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
19. To determine the sign of To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
20. To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.