sign

noun

UK /saɪn/

Word Forms

singular	sign
plural	signs

1
countable/uncountable a piece of evidence that something is happening or that something exists
sure sign:
She began tapping her foot, a sure sign of annoyance.
sign that:
He had somehow missed the signs that she was upset.
no/little etc sign:
There were few signs of an upturn in the economy.
sign of:
I couldn’t see any sign of progress.
see/take something as a sign:
Ann took his silence as a sign of rejection.
show no/little/every etc sign:
Interest rates show no sign of falling.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
1. 1a
  something that suggests that a good or bad thing will happen in the future
  The fact that he phoned you is a good sign.
  warning/danger sign:
  Looking back now, I realize I failed to spot the warning signs.
  a sign of things to come (=a sign of what will happen in the future):
  Recent job losses are probably a sign of things to come.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signs of how things are or what may happen in the future
  sign
  signal
  indication
2. 1b
  evidence that someone is present
  sign of:
  When we came out of the station there was no sign of her.
  Synonyms and related words
  Proof and evidence
  evidence
  sign
  suggestion
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with sign
▪ clear, encouraging, hopeful, ominous, positive, sure, telltale, visible
2
countable a flat object with words or pictures on it, put in a public place to provide information or advertise something
a flashing neon sign
The shop had a ‘closed’ sign in the window.
follow the signs:
Turn right and follow the signs to the zoo.
obey/ignore a sign:
Several people were ignoring the no-smoking sign.
Synonyms and related words
Types of advertisement
ad
advert
advertisement
3
countable a movement or sound that you make that tells other people what you want, how you feel, what they should do etc
a sign to someone (to do something):
Mandy winked, our sign to each other to remain silent.
Synonyms and related words
General words for gestures and gesturing
action
body language
flourish
1. 3a
  a movement that you make with your hands that has a special meaning
  give a sign:
  He turned and gave the familiar thumbs-up sign to the crowd.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for gestures and gesturing
  action
  body language
  flourish
4
countable a written symbol that has a particular meaning, such as % meaning ‘per cent’ or $ meaning ‘dollar’
a pound sign
a multiplication/division sign
Synonyms and related words
General words for symbols and symbolism
signified
signifier
symbol
5
countable a star sign
I’m a Scorpio. What sign are you?
Synonyms and related words
Astrology
Aquarius
Aries
astrologer

phrases

sign of life

a sign of the times

sign

noun

US /saɪn/

Word Forms

singular	sign
plural	signs

1
countable/uncountable a piece of evidence that something is happening or that something exists
sign of:
I couldn’t see any sign of progress.
see/take something as a sign:
Ann took his silence as a sign of rejection.
sure sign:
She began tapping her foot, a sure sign of annoyance.
no/little etc. sign:
There were few signs of an upturn in the economy.
sign that:
He had somehow missed the signs that she was upset.
show no/little/every etc. sign:
Interest rates show no sign of falling.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
1. 1a
  something that suggests that a good or bad thing will happen in the future
  The fact that he phoned you is a good sign.
  warning/danger sign:
  Looking back now, I realize I failed to spot the warning signs.
  a sign of things to come (=a sign of what will happen in the future):
  Recent job losses are probably a sign of things to come.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signs of how things are or what may happen in the future
  sign
  signal
  indication
2. 1b
  evidence that someone is present
  sign of:
  When we came out of the station there was no sign of her.
  Synonyms and related words
  Proof and evidence
  evidence
  sign
  suggestion
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with sign
▪ clear, encouraging, hopeful, ominous, positive, sure, telltale, visible
2
countable a flat object with words or pictures on it, put in a public place to provide information or advertise something
a flashing neon sign
The store had a “closed” sign in the window.
follow the signs:
Turn right and follow the signs to the zoo.
obey/ignore a sign:
Several people were ignoring the no-smoking sign.
Synonyms and related words
Types of advertisement
ad
advert
advertisement
3
countable a movement or sound that you make that tells other people what you want, how you feel, what they should do, etc.
a sign to someone (to do something):
Marcie winked, our sign to each other to remain silent.
Synonyms and related words
General words for gestures and gesturing
action
body language
flourish
1. 3a
  a movement that you make with your hands that has a special meaning
  give a sign:
  He turned and gave the familiar thumbs-up sign to the crowd.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for gestures and gesturing
  action
  body language
  flourish
4
countable a written symbol that has a particular meaning, such as % meaning “percent” or $ meaning “dollar”
a dollar sign
a multiplication/division sign
Synonyms and related words
General words for symbols and symbolism
signified
signifier
symbol
5
countable a star sign
I’m a Scorpio. What’s your sign?
Synonyms and related words
Astrology
Aquarius
Aries
astrologer

phrases

sign of life

a sign of the times

sign

verb

UK /saɪn/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sign
he/she/it	signs
present participle	signing
past tense	signed
past participle	signed

1
intransitive/transitive to write your name on something in your own personal way
Just sign here.
You haven’t signed Rory’s birthday card yet.
sign an autograph:
Players from both teams were signing autographs before the game.
Synonyms and related words
To write your name on something
sign
endorse
witness
1. 1a
  to write your full name on a document to show that you agree with what is written in it
  Please sign and date the form.
  The contract must be signed before we can proceed with the work.
  sign something with someone:
  The team has signed a special agreement with the players.
  Synonyms and related words
  To write your name on something
  sign
  endorse
  witness
2. 1b
  if a group or country signs a document, its official representatives sign it to agree to what it says
  The rebels have now signed the ceasefire agreement.
  A trade agreement was signed today by the US and China.
  Synonyms and related words
  To write your name on something
  sign
  endorse
  witness
2

sign
or
sign up
transitive to officially employ someone to work for a particular organization
The team needs to sign several replacement players.
sign someone to/for something:
Within months, the group was signed to a major record company.
Synonyms and related words
To employ someone
employ
appoint
take on
3
intransitive/transitive to communicate using sign language
Synonyms and related words
To say something in a particular way
chirp
chorus
come on strong

phrases

signed and sealed

phrasal verbs

sign away

sign for

sign off

sign off on

sign on

sign out

sign over

sign with

sign

verb

US /saɪn/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sign
he/she/it	signs
present participle	signing
past tense	signed
past participle	signed

1
intransitive/transitive to write your name on something in your own personal way
You haven’t signed Rory’s birthday card yet.
Just sign here.
sign an autograph:
Players from both teams were signing autographs before the game.
Synonyms and related words
To write your name on something
sign
endorse
witness
1. 1a
  to write your full name on a document to show that you agree with what is written in it
  Please sign and date the form.
  The contract must be signed before we can proceed with the work.
  sign something with someone:
  The team has signed a special agreement with the players.
  Synonyms and related words
  To write your name on something
  sign
  endorse
  witness
2. 1b
  if a group or country signs a document, its official representatives sign it to agree to what it says
  The rebels have now signed the ceasefire agreement.
  A trade agreement was signed today by the U.S. and China.
  sign something into law (=to officially sign a new law):
  The legislation was passed and signed into law last year.
  Synonyms and related words
  To write your name on something
  sign
  endorse
  witness
2

sign
or
sign up
transitive to officially employ someone to work for a particular organization
The team needs to sign several replacement players.
sign someone to/for something:
Within months, the group was signed to a major record company.
Synonyms and related words
To employ someone
employ
appoint
take on
3
intransitive/transitive to communicate using sign language
Synonyms and related words
To say something in a particular way
chirp
chorus
come on strong

phrases

signed, sealed, and delivered

phrasal verbs

sign away

sign for

sign off

sign off on

sign on

sign out

sign over

sign with

sign ​‌‌‌

sign ​‌‌‌

sign ​‌‌‌

sign

sign up

sign ​‌‌‌

sign

sign up

sign

sign

sign

sign