Sign — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈsīn/

Meaning & Definition of Sign

Sign (noun)

  1. a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known
  2. signal
  3. a fundamental linguistic unit that designates an object or relation or has a purely syntactic function

Sign (verb)

  1. cross
  2. to place a sign on or mark by signs
  3. to represent or indicate by a sign

Sign (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to write one's name on (as a document)

    "you'll have to sign the contract for it to be legal"

    similar: autograph, ink, subscribe
    related: sign up, cosign, countersign, endorse, register, sign on, inscribe, author, pen, pencil (in), scratch (out), scrawl, scribble, notarize

Sign (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling

    "made a sign for the audience to be quiet"

    similar: gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime, signal
    related: beck, beckon, flourish, shrug, wave, body language, posture, indication, motion, sign language

  2. a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader

    "an and sign"

    similar: character, glyph, icon, symbol
    related: cipher, letter, numeral, hieroglyph, ideogram, pictogram, pictograph, rune

Related Entry: Sign (up or on) (verb)

Sign (up or on) is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign (up or on), not for sign.

  1. to provide with a paying job

    "the sports shoe company recently signed up the nation's top female college basketball player to plug its products"

    similar: assume, employ, engage, fee (chiefly Scottish), hire, lay on (chiefly British), pay, place, recruit, retain, take on
    related: reemploy, reengage, rehire, apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract, enlist, advance, promote, upgrade, keep (on), headhunt, scout
    opposite: ax, can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack
    near: furlough, lay off, lock out

Related Entry: Sign on (for) (verb)

Sign on (for) is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign on (for), not for sign.

  1. to become a member of

    "I signed on for the crew team simply as a lark"

    similar: enlist (in), enroll (in), enter, join, sign up (for)
    related: reenlist, reenroll, reenter, rejoin, re-up, get in
    opposite: demit
    near: drop out, quit, withdraw

Related Entry: Sign up (for) (verb)

Sign up (for) is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign up (for), not for sign.

  1. to become a member of

    "they both signed up for a Spanish class"

    similar: enlist (in), enroll (in), enter, join, sign on (for)
    related: reenlist, reenroll, reenter, rejoin, re-up, get in
    opposite: demit
    near: drop out, quit, withdraw

Related Entry: Sign language (noun)

Sign language is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign language, not for sign.

  1. as in body language, sign

    similar: gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime, sign, signal, beck, beckon, flourish, shrug, wave, body language, posture, indication, motion

Related Entry: Sign languages (noun)

Sign languages is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign languages, not for sign.

  1. as in body languages, signs

    similar: gesticulations, gestures, mimes, pantomimes, signals, signs, beckons, becks, flourishes, shrugs, waves, body languages, postures, indications, motions

Related Entry: Sign off (on) (verb)

Sign off (on) is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign off (on), not for sign.

  1. as in sign, initial

    similar: initial, rubber-stamp, sign, bless, canonize, sanctify, allow, enable, legalize, license, pass, permit, certify, endorse, validate, reapprove, accept, acknowledge, affirm, accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK, ratify, sanction, warrant
    opposite: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto, ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

Related Entry: Sign on (verb)

Sign on is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign on, not for sign.

  1. as in sign up, enroll

    similar: contract, enlist, enroll, sign up, affiance, betroth, plight, promise, swear, vow, overcommit, commit, engage, mortgage, pledge, troth
    opposite: renege

Related Entry: Sign up (verb)

Sign up is a different word from Sign. The synonyms below are for sign up, not for sign.

  1. as in notarize

    similar: notarize, autograph, ink, sign, subscribe, cosign, countersign, endorse, register, sign on, initial, inscribe, author, pen, pencil (in), scratch (out), scrawl, scribble

  2. as in volunteer

    similar: volunteer, call up, enlist, enroll, recruit, impress, press, conscribe, conscript, draft, levy
    opposite: discharge, muster out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sign

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sign:

autograph, ink, subscribe, gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime, signal, character, glyph, icon, symbol

Related Words for Sign

sign up, cosign, countersign, endorse, register, sign on, inscribe, author, pen, pencil (in), scratch (out), scrawl, scribble, notarize, beck, beckon, flourish, shrug, wave, body language, posture, indication, motion, sign language, cipher, letter, numeral, hieroglyph, ideogram, pictogram

Word Forms of Sign

Inflections: signed, signing, signs

Derived words: signee (noun), signer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Sign

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

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Sign

Words & Phrases Containing Sign

sign in, sign language, sign of aggregation, sign off, sign of the cross, sign on, sign out, sign up

Frequently Asked Questions about Sign

What does "Sign" mean?

"Sign" means a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sign"?

Other words for "Sign" include autograph, ink, subscribe, gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime and signal. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sign" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sign"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sign". Common alternatives include autograph, ink, subscribe, gesticulation, gesture, mime, pantomime, signal, character and glyph.

How do you use "Sign" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sign" in a sentence: "you'll have to sign the contract for it to be legal"; "made a sign for the audience to be quiet"; "an and sign".

Is "Sign" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sign" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Sign" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Sign" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Sign"?

"Sign" is pronounced /ˈsīn/.

What is the origin of the word "Sign"?

"Sign" comes from Middle English signe, from Anglo-French, from Latin signum mark, token, sign, image, seal; perhaps akin to Latin secare to cut saw. First known use: 13th century.