The word signSomething that gives information or points to another thing. has several meanings, but it most often refers to something that gives information, shows a message, or points to something else. It can also mean to write your signatureYour handwritten name used to show approval or identity., communicate with gesturesMovements of the body, especially hands, used to communicate., or a symbol used in math and language.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /saɪn/
Easy pronunciation: SINE (approximate spelling).
Stress: Single syllable; the stress is on sign.
Primary sense: a noun meaning something that shows or suggests something else.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sign Meaning
something that shows or suggests something else
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent
Example: Dark clouds are often a sign of rain.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- mark — Works as a general indication or clue.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sign
Meaning 2
a board used to display a message or ad
Part of speech: noun
Definition: structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
Example: The shop put up a new sign outside.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- signboard — A close synonym for a display board.
Meaning 3
write your name on something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
Example: Please sign the form before you leave.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- subscribe — Used in formal contexts for signing one's name.
Meaning 4
bless with the sign of the cross
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Example: The priest signed the child before the journey.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bless — Related religious action, but broader than this exact sense.
Meaning 5
a gesture that communicates something
Part of speech: noun
Definition: any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
Example: He gave her a quick sign to wait.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- signal — Works when the gesture is meant to communicate.
- signaling — More a related noun than a direct everyday substitute.
Meaning 6
hire or engage with a contract
Part of speech: verb
Definition: engage by written agreement
Example: The team signed two new pitchers for next season.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- contract — Works in the sense of hiring or engaging formally.
- sign on — Common informal substitute for joining or agreeing to work.
- sign up — Common when joining or registering for something.
Meaning 7
related to sign language
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: used of the language of the deaf
Example: She took a sign-language class.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- gestural — Related, but less common and broader in meaning.
- sign-language — Directly refers to sign language.
- signed — Used for communication in sign language.
Meaning 8
an omen or prophetic indication
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
Example: Many people took the eclipse as a sign.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- augury — A strong match in formal or literary usage.
- foretoken — A direct but formal synonym.
- preindication — Very formal; works as a precursor or warning sign.
Meaning 9
approve by signing
Part of speech: verb
Definition: approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
Example: The manager signed the agreement yesterday.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ratify — Works when signing means formally approving.
Meaning 10
communicate without speaking
Part of speech: verb
Definition: communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
Example: She signed to him from across the room.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- signal — A strong substitute when communication is by gesture.
- signalise — British spelling; formal and less common.
- signalize — Formal and less common.
Meaning 11
a zodiac sign
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Example: Her sign is Leo.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- house — Astrology term, but often refers to a different division of the chart.
- mansion — Astrological term, but not a direct everyday substitute.
- planetary house — Specialist astrological term.
- sign of the zodiac — Direct phrase for this meaning.
- star sign — Common everyday term for a zodiac sign.
Meaning 12
showing positive or negative polarity
Part of speech: noun
Definition: having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
Example: The charges have opposite sign.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- polarity — The closest matching term for this technical meaning.
Meaning 13
a math symbol like plus or minus
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a character indicating a relation between quantities
Example: Don't forget the minus sign.
Meaning 14
a basic unit of meaning in linguistics
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified
Example: The relationship between a signifier and a signified is arbitrary.
Meaning 15
a sign-language gesture
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a gesture that is part of a sign language
Example: She learned several signs in ASL.
Meaning 16
a posted notice or display
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a public display of a message
Example: They put signs in all the shop windows.
Meaning 17
be hired under a contract
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be engaged by a written agreement
Example: The singer signed to perform at the festival.
Meaning 18
use sign language
Part of speech: verb
Definition: communicate in sign language
Example: He can sign fluently.
Meaning 19
an observable symptom or clue of illness
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease
Example: There were no signs of infection.
Meaning 20
put road signs in place
Part of speech: verb
Definition: place signs, as along a road
Example: The city signed the new highway last month.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sign Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- mark
sign as a board or display
- signboard
sign with a signature
- subscribe
religious sign of the cross
- bless
gesture or signal
- signal
hire or join by contract
- contract
- sign on
- sign up
sign-language related
- gestural
- sign-language
- signed
omen or prophecy
- augury
- foretoken
- preindication
formal approval by signing
- ratify
silent nonverbal communication
- signal
- signalise
- signalize
zodiac meaning
- house
- mansion
- planetary house
- sign of the zodiac
- star sign
technical polarity sense
- polarity
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using sign to mean only a road sign or advertisement board. It also means an indication, a signature, a gesture, and several technical things.
- Mixing up sign as a noun with sign as a verb.
- Assuming sign always means the same thing as symbol. In many contexts, sign is broader or different.
- Using sign language and sign as if they are interchangeable in every context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of sign?
The most common everyday meaning is something that indicates or suggests something else, like a sign of rain or a sign of trouble.
What are the best synonyms for sign?
For the main meaning, mark is the closest listed synonym. Other senses use different synonyms, such as signboard for a display board or signal for a gesture.
Is sign the same as symbol?
Not always. A sign can be a clue, message, gesture, or marker, while symbol usually means something that stands for something else.
Does sign only mean a posted board?
No. That is only one meaning. Sign can also mean an indication, a signature, a gesture, an omen, or a zodiac sign.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.