Word
denote
Phoneticsde·note, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈnoʊt/
UK/dɪnˈəʊt/
Definitions
01to represent or mean
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
v. to be a sign of something or to mean something specific.
v. to serve as a symbol, sign, or name for something; to indicate or represent directly.
“In this diagram, the red lines denote the main roads in the city.”
“The mathematical symbols used in the equation denote specific physical constants that remain unchanged throughout the experiment.”
02literal meaning
C2 · Proficiency Academic · Technical
v. to mean the literal or dictionary definition of a word, rather than the feelings it suggests.
v. to refer to the literal, objective meaning of a term as opposed to its subjective connotations.
“While the word 'home' connotes comfort, it simply denotes the place where one lives.”
“In semiotics, it is crucial to distinguish between what a sign denotes literally and the cultural values it connotes to a specific audience.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “denote” in context.
Adverb
01. respectively denote
“In the diagram, the red and blue lines respectively denote the export and import values for the fiscal year.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Frequently used in academic and technical writing to define symbols or terms.
Pitfall
The word denotes about a feeling
The word denotes a feeling
Denote is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“That is the question that led the Italian photographer Niccolò Rastrelli to embark on the project IRL (the online acronym, of course, for a phrase denoting our offline existences: in real life).” “Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is made of four building blocks denoted by the letters A, C, G and U.” Etymology
From Middle French denoter, from Latin denotare, from de- (“complete”) and notare (“to mark out”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/denote