ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sign

n. · v.
US //ˈsaɪn// UK //sˈaɪn// sign
  1. 1 a physical notice (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a board or notice with words or pictures that gives information or instructions.

    a physical object, typically a board or placard, displaying a message, warning, or direction.

    Example

    The road sign told the driver to turn left at the next junction.

    Example

    The local council erected a prominent sign warning pedestrians that the coastal path was prone to erosion during the winter months.
  2. 2 evidence or indication (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    something that shows that a situation exists or is likely to happen.

    an indicator or piece of evidence suggesting the presence, existence, or imminence of something.

    Example

    Dark clouds are often a sign that it will rain soon.

    Example

    Economists noted that the sudden increase in consumer spending was a clear sign of returning confidence in the national market.
Show 5 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 a gesture or symbol (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a movement of your hand or a mark that has a special meaning.

    a gesture, mark, or symbol used to represent a specific meaning or to communicate without speech.

    Example

    He gave a thumbs-up sign to show that everything was okay.

    Example

    The referee made a specific hand sign to indicate that the goal had been disallowed due to an earlier foul.
  2. 4 astrology (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Religion

    one of the twelve areas of the zodiac, like Leo or Taurus.

    any of the twelve divisions of the zodiac, used in astrology to predict character or future events.

    Example

    What is your star sign? I was born in April, so I am an Aries.

    Example

    Although she claimed not to believe in astrology, she still checked the predictions for her sign in the Sunday newspaper.
    • zodiac sign
    • star sign
  3. 5 mathematical polarity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Math

    the symbol + or - used to show if a number is positive or negative.

    the property of being positive or negative, represented by the plus or minus symbol.

    Example

    If you change the sign from minus to plus, the answer will be different.

    Example

    The student failed to notice the negative sign before the bracket, which led to a cumulative error in the final calculation.
  4. 6 to write a signature (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to write your name on a document to show that you agree with it.

    to write one's signature on a document to formalise, approve, or acknowledge it.

    Example

    You need to sign the contract at the bottom of the last page.

    Example

    The treaty was finally signed by all representatives after three days of intensive negotiations in the capital.
    Pitfall
    Please sign on this paper.
    Please sign this paper.

    The verb 'sign' is usually transitive; you sign the document directly without using 'on'.

  5. 7 to use sign language (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Linguistics

    to communicate using your hands and gestures instead of speaking.

    to communicate using a system of manual gestures, particularly as used by the deaf community.

    Example

    She learned how to sign so she could talk to her cousin who cannot hear.

    Example

    The interpreter began to sign the speech simultaneously, ensuring the deaf members of the audience could follow the debate in real time.
Etymology 1

From Middle English signe, sygne, syng, seine, sine, syne, from Old English seġn (“sign; mark; token”) and Old French signe, seing (“sign; mark; signature”); both from Latin signum (“a mark; sign; token”); root uncertain. Doublet of signum. Partially displaced native token.

Etymology 2

From Middle English signen, seinen, seinien, partly from Old English seġnian (“to mark; sign”) and partly from Anglo-Norman seigner, seiner et al., Old French signer et al., and their source Latin signāre (“to mark, seal, indicate, signify”); all from Latin signum (“a mark, sign”); see Etymology 1, above. Compare sain.

Word family
Idioms7 entries

© 2026 English Reference