English Reference

Word

signaling

Phoneticssig·nal·ing

/ˈsɪɡnəɫɪŋ/

UK spelling · signalling

Definitions

01sending messages

B2

n. the act of sending a signal or message to someone or something.

n. the act or process of transmitting a signal, often in a technical or systematic context.

“The ship's signaling was clear enough for the coast guard to see.”

“The railway's signaling system was upgraded to prevent collisions during periods of heavy fog or low visibility.”

American English

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to a system or process.

02biological communication

C1 · Science

n. the way cells or parts of the body send chemical messages to each other.

n. the biochemical process by which cells communicate with each other, typically via hormones or other signaling molecules.

“Scientists are studying how cell signaling affects the growth of the brain.”

“Disruptions in insulin signaling can lead to significant metabolic disorders, as the body fails to regulate glucose levels effectively.”

Technical · Academic

Usage

Commonly appears in the phrase 'cell signaling'.

Synonyms

cell communication

03giving a sign

B1

v. showing or giving a sign to someone.

v. the present participle of 'signal', indicating the act of making a sign or gesture to convey information.

“He was signaling for a taxi by waving his arm in the air.”

“By signaling his intention to resign early, the CEO allowed the board ample time to vet potential internal candidates.”

American English

Synonyms

gesturingindicating

Real-World Examples

“Instead of focusing only on destroying cancer cells, future therapies might interrupt the signaling between macrophages and the nerves that appear to support tumor growth.”
ScienceDaily · 17 Aug 2026
“Workers are also signaling that they need help keeping up.”
Phys.org · 16 Aug 2026
“The pilot Toyoshima was tasked with signaling when the uprising should start by sounding a bugle.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 5 Aug 2026
“We also want to examine whether robots can repair trust after a mistake by acknowledging the error, apologizing or signaling good intent, the way that people do after awkward or uncomfortable interactions.”
The Conversation · 3 Aug 2026

Word family

signalNounsignalingNoun

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/signaling

English Reference