Sign
noun
A piece of information, a symbol or an action that tells you something.
The stop sign on the road tells drivers to stop
Often appears as...
- stop sign
- sign language
verb
To write your name on a document.
She signed the contract after reading it
Often appears as...
- sign a contract
- sign a document
verb
To hire someone to work for a business, team, etc.
The football club signed a new player
Often appears as...
- sign a player
- sign a contract
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To use hand movements to communicate.
Her parents are deaf, so she signs to communicate with them
Often appears as...
- sign language
- sign 'i love you'
noun
A way to know what will happen in the future.
My horoscope sign is Cancer, which means I am sensitive and caring
Often appears as...
- zodiac sign
- horoscope sign
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To show agreement or approval.
The president signed off on the new legislation
Often appears as...
- sign off on
- sign off approval
Usage tips
Formal, Approving
Academic
noun
A piece of information, a symbol or an action that tells you something.
The stop sign on the road tells drivers to stop
Often appears as...
- stop sign
- sign language
verb
To write your name on a document.
She signed the contract after reading it
Often appears as...
- sign a contract
- sign a document
verb
To hire someone to work for a business, team, etc.
The football club signed a new player
Often appears as...
- sign a player
- sign a contract
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To use hand movements to communicate.
Her parents are deaf, so she signs to communicate with them
Often appears as...
- sign language
- sign 'i love you'
noun
A way to know what will happen in the future.
My horoscope sign is Cancer, which means I am sensitive and caring
Often appears as...
- zodiac sign
- horoscope sign
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To show agreement or approval.
The president signed off on the new legislation
Often appears as...
- sign off on
- sign off approval
Usage tips
Formal, Approving
Academic
Definition 1 of 6
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variations
Symbols may differ across cultures; what's a sign in one may not be in another.
A thumbs-up is a positive sign in many cultures, but offensive in others.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Importance
Visual signs are often used where words may not be effective, like in traffic.
A red hexagon is universally recognized as a stop sign.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-verbal Clues
Signs include body language that can hint at a person's feelings or intentions.
Crossed arms might be a sign of defensiveness.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variations
Symbols may differ across cultures; what's a sign in one may not be in another.
A thumbs-up is a positive sign in many cultures, but offensive in others.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Importance
Visual signs are often used where words may not be effective, like in traffic.
A red hexagon is universally recognized as a stop sign.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-verbal Clues
Signs include body language that can hint at a person's feelings or intentions.
Crossed arms might be a sign of defensiveness.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variations
Symbols may differ across cultures; what's a sign in one may not be in another.
A thumbs-up is a positive sign in many cultures, but offensive in others.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Importance
Visual signs are often used where words may not be effective, like in traffic.
A red hexagon is universally recognized as a stop sign.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-verbal Clues
Signs include body language that can hint at a person's feelings or intentions.
Crossed arms might be a sign of defensiveness.
Never forget "Sign"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How do tornadoes form? -...
but the truth is, there's still a lot we don't know about how tornadoes form. The conditions that may give rise to one tornado won't necessarily cause another. But we have learned a lot since people first started recording tornadoes, like how to recognize the signs when one is brewing in the sky. Are you coming along for the ride?
Video examples
Why elephants never...
by encoding important experiences into long-term memories. The ability to distinguish this importance makes elephant memory a complex and adaptable faculty beyond rote memorization. It's what allows elephants who survived a drought in their youth to recognize its warning signs in adulthood,
Video examples
The unexpected math...
they concluded that paintings from Van Gogh's period of psychotic agitation behave remarkably similar to fluid turbulence. His self-portrait with a pipe, from a calmer period in Van Gogh's life, showed no sign of this correspondence. And neither did other artists' work
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
If you want a glimpse of Marie Curie's manuscripts, you'll have to sign a waiver and put on protective gear to shield yourself from radiation contamination. Madame Curie's remains, too, were interred in a lead-lined coffin,
Video examples
The evolution of the...
strewn with these little signs of the tension between the desire to be comprehensible and the limitations of the technology available at the time something as small as the dot on an eye symbolizes how technology influences
Video examples
Why do we feel...
as a marketing technique. It's tempting to think of this as a sign of us being stuck in the past, but that's not really how nostalgia works. Instead, nostalgia helps us remember that our lives can have meaning and value,
Video examples
What does this symbol...
others to steer traffic or advance political causes. But there's one whose main purpose is to help people. You may know it as the wheelchair symbol, or a sign for people with disabilities,
Video examples
Army Ants Rampage...
A defence system of soldier ants ready to act at any sign of danger. A digestive system processing piles of food deep inside. Even a coordinated system for dealing with all the waste.
Video examples
Ze Frank: Are you human?
as a sign of aggression? Okay. Period. Have you ever laughed or smiled when someone said something shitty to you and then spent the rest of the day wondering why you reacted that way?
Video examples
Surf Sisters - Ep. 2 PIPE...
A lot of our participants, it's their first time putting on a wet suit, it's their first time going in the water, and so they sign up 'cause they're like afraid of the ocean.
Video examples
How do tornadoes form? -...
but the truth is, there's still a lot we don't know about how tornadoes form. The conditions that may give rise to one tornado won't necessarily cause another. But we have learned a lot since people first started recording tornadoes, like how to recognize the signs when one is brewing in the sky. Are you coming along for the ride?
Video examples
Why elephants never...
by encoding important experiences into long-term memories. The ability to distinguish this importance makes elephant memory a complex and adaptable faculty beyond rote memorization. It's what allows elephants who survived a drought in their youth to recognize its warning signs in adulthood,
Video examples
The unexpected math...
they concluded that paintings from Van Gogh's period of psychotic agitation behave remarkably similar to fluid turbulence. His self-portrait with a pipe, from a calmer period in Van Gogh's life, showed no sign of this correspondence. And neither did other artists' work
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
If you want a glimpse of Marie Curie's manuscripts, you'll have to sign a waiver and put on protective gear to shield yourself from radiation contamination. Madame Curie's remains, too, were interred in a lead-lined coffin,
Video examples
The evolution of the...
strewn with these little signs of the tension between the desire to be comprehensible and the limitations of the technology available at the time something as small as the dot on an eye symbolizes how technology influences
Video examples
Why do we feel...
as a marketing technique. It's tempting to think of this as a sign of us being stuck in the past, but that's not really how nostalgia works. Instead, nostalgia helps us remember that our lives can have meaning and value,
Video examples
What does this symbol...
others to steer traffic or advance political causes. But there's one whose main purpose is to help people. You may know it as the wheelchair symbol, or a sign for people with disabilities,
Video examples
Army Ants Rampage...
A defence system of soldier ants ready to act at any sign of danger. A digestive system processing piles of food deep inside. Even a coordinated system for dealing with all the waste.
Video examples
Ze Frank: Are you human?
as a sign of aggression? Okay. Period. Have you ever laughed or smiled when someone said something shitty to you and then spent the rest of the day wondering why you reacted that way?
Video examples
Surf Sisters - Ep. 2 PIPE...
A lot of our participants, it's their first time putting on a wet suit, it's their first time going in the water, and so they sign up 'cause they're like afraid of the ocean.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Simon Sinek
English Author
If you want to be a great leader, remember to treat all people with respect at all times. For one, because you never know when you'll need their help. And two, because it's a sign you respect people, which all great leaders do.
Quote examples
Jim Rohn
American Businessman
Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you're signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
Whenever you hear a man speak of his love for his country, it is a sign that he expects to be paid for it.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can't put a dollar sign on.
Quote examples
J. K. Rowling
English Author
Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.
Quote examples
Ashley Nell Tipton
American Designer
Me showing my emotions... it's not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of passion.
Quote examples
Irrfan Khan
Indian Actor
The sign of a good society is where talent is respected.
Quote examples
Charlyne Yi
American Actress
I would never sign up to film my personal life.
Quote examples
Jimmy Barnes
Scottish Musician
Songs are like sign posts in my life.
Quote examples
Matt Berninger
American Musician
A suit is a sign of respect.
Quote examples
Simon Sinek
English Author
If you want to be a great leader, remember to treat all people with respect at all times. For one, because you never know when you'll need their help. And two, because it's a sign you respect people, which all great leaders do.
Quote examples
Jim Rohn
American Businessman
Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you're signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
Whenever you hear a man speak of his love for his country, it is a sign that he expects to be paid for it.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can't put a dollar sign on.
Quote examples
J. K. Rowling
English Author
Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.
Quote examples
Ashley Nell Tipton
American Designer
Me showing my emotions... it's not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of passion.
Quote examples
Irrfan Khan
Indian Actor
The sign of a good society is where talent is respected.
Quote examples
Charlyne Yi
American Actress
I would never sign up to film my personal life.
Quote examples
Jimmy Barnes
Scottish Musician
Songs are like sign posts in my life.
Quote examples
Matt Berninger
American Musician
A suit is a sign of respect.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension