mark

noun countable

UK /mɑː(r)k/

Word Forms

singular	mark
plural	marks

1
an area of an unpleasant substance such as dirt or oil on the surface of something that is different in colour from the rest
There was a greasy mark on his shirt.
leave a mark (on something):
The sauce has left a mark on the cloth.
Synonyms and related words
Dirty marks
mark
spot
smear
1. 1a
  a damaged area on the surface of something
  a burn/scorch/bite/scuff/scratch mark:
  There were burn marks on her hands.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signs of damage
  a blot on something
  blemish
  blight
2. 1b
  an area of colour on something such as a person’s or animal’s skin that is different in colour from the rest
  The male bird has a white mark on its breast.
  Synonyms and related words
  Skin problems, swellings and injuries
  abrasion
  abscess
  athlete’s foot
2
educationBritisha score in the form of a number, percentage, or letter that a teacher gives a student’s work. The American word is grade
My worst mark was a D.
mark for/in:
What were his marks for the last test?
give someone/get a high/low/good/poor mark:
You can’t afford to get another low mark in Spanish.
top marks (=the highest mark):
She got top marks for history.
Synonyms and related words
Grades and marks given for school or university work
A
A minus/B minus/C minus/D minus
A plus/B plus/C plus/D plus
1. 2a
  a score that a judge gives a performance in a competition
  Synonyms and related words
  Scoring points and goals
  a clean sheet
  aggregate
  all
See alsofull marks
See alsopass mark
3
a particular level, stage, total etc that something reaches
the halfway mark:
Chicago was the halfway mark on our trip across the country.
reach a mark:
Average earnings have not yet reached the £25,000 mark.
Synonyms and related words
Individual stages of events and processes
episode
gradation
in/during the heat of something
4
a printed or written symbol that is not a letter or a number
The mark above the vowel changes its sound.
Put a mark by the names of the most interesting candidates.
Synonyms and related words
Miscellaneous written symbols
©
arrow
asterisk
1. 4a
  the symbol X that someone who does not know how to write puts instead of their name on a document
  Synonyms and related words
  Miscellaneous written symbols
  ©
  arrow
  asterisk
5
something that shows that a person or thing has a particular quality
mark of:
The mark of a good film is that it leaves you talking about it.
a mark of respect:
The race was postponed as a mark of respect.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
6
the unit of money used in Germany before the euro
Synonyms and related words
Old units of money
bob
crown
Deutschmark
7
an official sign on something that shows who made it, who it belongs to, or that it is of a particular standard or quality
carry a mark (=have a mark on it):
We suggest you only buy toys that carry the safety mark.
Synonyms and related words
Vouchers, coupons, labels and receipts
bar code
coupon
courtesy card
8
the place that you try to hit
find/hit your mark:
His third shot found its mark.
miss your mark:
The bullet missed its mark, embedding itself in a tree.
Synonyms and related words
Scoring points and goals
a clean sheet
aggregate
all

phrases

be quick/slow off the mark

close to/near the mark

hit/miss the mark

leave your/a mark (on)

make your/a mark (on something)

Mark 1/2/3 etc

not up to the mark

on the mark

on your marks

stamp your mark on something

wide of the mark

mark

noun countable

US /mɑrk/

Word Forms

singular	mark
plural	marks

1
an area of an unpleasant substance such as dirt or oil on the surface of something that is different in color from the rest
There was a greasy mark on his shirt.
leave a mark (on something):
The sauce has left a mark on the cloth.
Synonyms and related words
Dirty marks
mark
spot
smear
1. 1a
  a damaged area on the surface of something
  a burn/scorch/bite/scuff/scratch mark:
  There were burn marks on her hands.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signs of damage
  a blot on something
  blemish
  blight
2. 1b
  an area of color on something such as a person’s or animal’s skin that is different in color from the rest
  The male bird has a white mark on its breast.
  Synonyms and related words
  Skin problems, swellings and injuries
  abrasion
  abscess
  athlete’s foot
2
a particular level, stage, total, etc. that something reaches
the halfway mark:
Chicago was the halfway mark on our trip across the country.
reach a mark:
Average earnings have not yet reached the $40,000 mark.
Synonyms and related words
Individual stages of events and processes
episode
gradation
in/during the heat of something
3
something that shows that a person or thing has a particular quality
mark of:
The mark of a good movie is that it leaves you talking about it.
a mark of respect:
The race was postponed as a mark of respect.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
4
a printed or written symbol that is not a letter or a number
The mark above the vowel changes its sound.
Put a mark by the names of the most interesting candidates.
Synonyms and related words
Miscellaneous written symbols
©
arrow
asterisk
1. 4a
  the symbol X that someone who does not know how to write puts instead of their name on a document
  Synonyms and related words
  Miscellaneous written symbols
  ©
  arrow
  asterisk
5
educationBritisha grade that a teacher gives a student’s work
My worst mark was a D.
Synonyms and related words
Grades and marks given for school or university work
A
A minus/B minus/C minus/D minus
a passing grade/mark
1. 5a
  a score that a judge gives a performance in a competition
  Synonyms and related words
  Scoring points and goals
  aggregate
  all
  all square
6
the place that you try to hit
find/hit your mark:
His third shot found its mark.
miss your mark:
The bullet missed its mark, embedding itself in a tree.
Synonyms and related words
Scoring points and goals
aggregate
all
all square
7
an official sign on something that shows who made it, who it belongs to, or that it is of a particular standard or quality
carry a mark (=have a mark on it):
We suggest you only buy toys that carry the mark of the Safety Council.
Synonyms and related words
Vouchers, coupons, labels and receipts
bar code
coupon
courtesy card
8
the unit of money used in Germany before the euro
Synonyms and related words
Old units of money
crown
Deutschmark
DM

phrases

be quick/slow off the mark

close to/near the mark

hit/miss the mark

leave your/a mark (on)

make your/a mark (on something)

Mark 1/2/3 etc.

not up to the mark

on the mark

on your marks

stamp your mark on something

way off the mark

mark

verb

UK /mɑː(r)k/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mark
he/she/it	marks
present participle	marking
past tense	marked
past participle	marked

1
transitive to make a mark on the surface of something so that its appearance is spoiled or damaged
be marked with something:
Her cheek was marked with scratches.
Synonyms and related words
To damage or spoil something
damage
spoil
mark
1. 1a
  intransitive if something marks, its appearance becomes spoiled or damaged by a mark made on its surface
  Shiny wooden surfaces tend to mark very easily.
  Synonyms and related words
  To draw, or to make a mark or pattern
  draw
  mark
  outline
2
transitive to write or draw words, letters, symbols etc on something for a particular purpose
We entered through a door marked ‘Private’.
mark something with something:
Foods marked with a red star are included in the recipe section.
mark something on something:
His job is to mark lines on roads.
mark someone (as) absent/present:
Anyone who is late will be marked absent.
Synonyms and related words
To write a mark on a document
mark
tick
cross out
3
intransitive/transitive educationBritishto judge the quality of a student’s work and write a mark on it
I spent the evening marking first-year essays.
Synonyms and related words
To judge a student’s work and to give it a mark
mark
grade
pass
4
transitive to show the position of something
A memorial plaque will mark the spot where he died.
A high stone wall marked the boundary of the Roscarrock estate.
Synonyms and related words
To write a mark on a document
mark
tick
cross out
5
transitive to show that something is happening
The book marked a change in direction for Scottish literature.
mark the start/end of something:
This tournament marks the official start of the season.
Synonyms and related words
To be a sign or symbol of something
signify
stand for
symbolize
6
transitive to be an important or typical feature of someone or something
He maintained the humble attitude that has always marked his public appearances.
be marked by something:
Public gatherings were generally marked by restraint and control.
Synonyms and related words
To be a feature or example of something
feature
enter into
characterize
7
transitive to celebrate something
A ceremony was held to mark the occasion.
Synonyms and related words
To celebrate
celebrate
celebration
parade
8
transitive to stay close to a member of the other team in a game such as football in order to prevent them from getting the ball or playing effectively
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in a game or sport
blank
block
bully off

phrases

mark my words

mark time

mark you

phrasal verbs

mark as

mark down

mark down as

mark off

mark out

mark up

mark

verb

US /mɑrk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mark
he/she/it	marks
present participle	marking
past tense	marked
past participle	marked

1
transitive to make a mark on the surface of something so that its appearance is spoiled or damaged
be marked with something:
Her cheek was marked with scratches.
Synonyms and related words
To damage or spoil something
damage
spoil
mark
1. 1a
  intransitive if something marks, its appearance becomes spoiled or damaged by a mark made on its surface
  Shiny wooden surfaces tend to mark very easily.
  Synonyms and related words
  To draw, or to make a mark or pattern
  mark out
  draw
  mark
2
transitive to write or draw words, letters, symbols, etc. on something for a particular purpose
We entered through a door marked “Private.”
mark something with something:
Foods marked with a red star are included in the recipe section.
mark something on something:
His job is to mark lines on roads.
mark someone (as) absent/present:
Anyone who is late will be marked absent.
Synonyms and related words
To write a mark on a document
mark
check
cross out
3
intransitive/transitive educationBritishto judge the quality of a student’s work and write a grade on it
I spent the evening marking freshman term papers.
Synonyms and related words
To judge a student’s work and to give it a mark
mark
grade
pass
4
transitive to show the position of something
A memorial plaque will mark the spot where he died.
A high stone wall marked the boundary of the Roscarrock estate.
Synonyms and related words
To write a mark on a document
mark
check
cross out
5
transitive to show that something is happening
The book marked a change in direction for American literature.
mark the start/end of something:
This tournament marks the official start of the season.
Synonyms and related words
To be a sign or symbol of something
signify
indicate
stand for
6
transitive to be an important or typical feature of someone or something
He maintained the humble attitude that has always marked his public appearances.
be marked by something:
Public gatherings were generally marked by restraint and control.
Synonyms and related words
To be a feature or example of something
feature
enter into
characterize
7
transitive to celebrate something
A ceremony was held to mark the occasion.
Synonyms and related words
To celebrate
celebrate
celebration
parade

phrases

mark my words

mark time

mark you

phrasal verbs

mark as

mark down

mark off

mark out

mark up

mark ​‌‌‌

mark ​‌‌‌

mark ​‌‌‌

mark ​‌‌‌

mark

mark

mark

mark