Denoteto stand for or show a particular meaning is a verb used when something stands for, represents, or indicates a meaning. In everyday English, it most often appears in formalused in serious or professional situations, not casual speech or technicalconnected with a special subject, field, or expert language writing, especially when symbols, signs, or words point to a particular idea.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪˈnoʊt/
Easy pronunciation: dih-NOHT (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: noht.
Primary sense: to mean or stand for something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Denote Meaning
to mean or stand for something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: have as a meaning; represent a meaning
Example: The prefix "un-" denotes the opposite of a word.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- refer — Works in the sense of pointing to or representing a meaning, though it is less exact in many contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Denote
Meaning 2
to show or suggest something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be a sign or indication of
Example: His silence denoted that he was upset.
Meaning 3
to announce or state something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make known; make an announcement
Example: She denoted her feelings clearly.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- announce — Only fits this reporting or stating sense, not the usual meaning of denote.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Denote Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- refer
be a sign or indication of
- indicate
- suggest
make known; make an announcement
- announce
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People often confuse denote with connote. Denote means to stand for or directly mean something; connote suggests an implied or associated meaning.
- Denote is not usually the same as announce in everyday usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does denote mean?
Denote means to stand for, represent, or directly mean something.
What is a synonym for denote?
A close synonym in the main sense is refer, though it is not always a perfect substitute. In some contexts, indicate or suggest may fit other senses.
Is denote the same as mean?
In many contexts, yes: denote can mean that a word, symbol, or sign stands for a particular meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.