mark
mark — verb
- markpresent simple I / you / we / they
- markshe / she / it
- markedpast simple
- marking-ing form
1. to check a student's work, correct mistakes in it, and give it a score.
to check a student's work, correct mistakes in it, and give it a score.
Ms Chen marked our essays before the parent meeting on Friday.
mark essays
The tutor stayed late to mark thirty exam papers.
Please mark each answer out of five, not ten.
Two teachers marked the project together to keep the result fair.
- mark essays
- mark papers
- mark out of ten
- grade
the usual word in American English for giving scores
Grammar Patterns
mark essays
mark exam papers
mark out of + number
Usage Note
Especially common in British English. American English often uses grade in the same sense.
2. to leave a line, stain, cut, or other visible sign on something.
to leave a line, stain, cut, or other visible sign on something.
The chair legs marked the floor during the move.
mark the floor
A rough zipper marked Salma's hand as she pulled the bag open.
Hot pans can mark the counter if you set them down carelessly.
The branch marked the car door with a thin scratch.
- mark the floor
- mark a hand
- mark a door
Grammar Patterns
mark the floor
mark a hand
mark a door with a scratch
3. to make a quality or feeling easy to notice in someone or something.
to make a quality or feeling easy to notice in someone or something.
Her patient reply marked her as the calmest person in the room.
mark someone as + noun
A warm laugh marked the interview as friendly from the start.
The clean lines mark this chair as modern rather than classic.
Years of travel marked him as someone comfortable in new places.
- mark someone as calm
- mark a style as modern
Grammar Patterns
mark someone as + noun
mark something as + adjective
Usage Note
Often appears with as to say what quality becomes clear.
4. to celebrate or remember an important event, date, or person.
to celebrate or remember an important event, date, or person.
The town marked the flood anniversary with a candle walk.
mark an anniversary
Schools across the island marked Earth Day with tree planting.
Our family marked Grandma's ninetieth birthday with a quiet lunch.
The museum marked the poet's death with a new exhibition.
- mark a birthday
- mark an anniversary
- mark Earth Day
- commemorate
more formal and often used in official contexts
- observe
common for festivals, memorial days, and customs
Grammar Patterns
mark an anniversary
mark a day with + event
5. to indicate a place by adding a line, sign, word, or other visible signal.
to indicate a place by adding a line, sign, word, or other visible signal.
Please mark the meeting point on the station map.
mark a place on a map
The nurse marked the sore spot before the X-ray.
A strip of tape marked the finish line across the gym floor.
The builder marked the wall where the shelf would go.
- mark the spot on a map
- mark the wall
- mark the finish line
Grammar Patterns
mark a place on a map
mark where + clause
6. to indicate the exact place where something can be found, especially in the patt
to indicate the exact place where something can be found, especially in the pattern X marks the spot.
On the treasure map, a red X marked the spot beside the palm trees.
X marks the spot
A chalk cross marked the place where the old well had been.
In the guidebook, a black star marks the beach with the safest harbour.
A brass plate marked the spot where the first tree once stood.
- X marks the spot
- cross marks the place
- star marks the beach
Grammar Patterns
X marks the spot
a cross marks the place
Usage Note
This sense is common in maps, clues, and the fixed line X marks the spot.
7. to keep close beside an opposing player so that player cannot receive the ball f
to keep close beside an opposing player so that player cannot receive the ball freely.
Rina marked the tallest striker all through the second half.
mark a striker
The coach told Leo to mark their captain at every corner.
Our defender forgot to mark the winger, and they scored.
Midfielders must mark quickly when the other side breaks forward.
- mark a striker
- mark tightly
- lose your mark
- cover
broader sports word that can include guarding space as well as a player
Grammar Patterns
mark a striker
mark at a corner
mark tightly
Usage Note
Used mainly in football and similar team sports.
8. to notice something carefully and remember it or think about it seriously.
to notice something carefully and remember it or think about it seriously.
Mark what the doctor says about the next dose.
mark what someone says
You should mark the warning signs before you swim there.
Mark my words, this small cafe will become famous.
Investors marked the sudden drop in fuel prices.
- mark what I say
- mark the warning signs
- mark my words
Grammar Patterns
mark what someone says
mark my words
Usage Note
Often used in instructions, warnings, and the fixed phrase mark my words.
mark — noun
- marksingular
- marksplural
1. a visible line, spot, or stain left on a surface.
a visible line, spot, or stain left on a surface.
The movers left dark marks on the kitchen wall beside the fridge.
leave marks on + surface
A muddy mark spread across Theo's clean sleeve after the bus ride.
The jeweller polished the silver until no finger marks remained.
There was a long burn mark on the table near the candle.
- leave a mark
- burn mark
- finger mark
- water mark
Grammar Patterns
leave a mark on + surface
a mark on + object
Usage Note
Often used for dirt, damage, or other visible traces on a surface.
2. a detail or quality that makes someone or something easy to recognize.
a detail or quality that makes someone or something easy to recognize.
The rescue dog had a white mark above one eye.
mark above one eye
A tiny star-shaped mark on the cup showed it was hand-painted.
Her calm voice was the first mark of a good teacher.
That sharp curve is a mark of the old bridge design.
- distinguishing mark
- identifying mark
- mark of a good teacher
Grammar Patterns
a mark of + identity
a mark on + body/object
Usage Note
This sense may refer to a physical feature or a quality that identifies something.
3. a sign put on something to give information about it.
a sign put on something to give information about it.
The guide put a red mark on the trail map near the waterfall.
put a mark on + map
Please make a small mark beside the box you agree with.
A blue mark on the pipe shows where the clean water enters.
The lab used a bright mark on each sample lid for safety.
- red mark
- chalk mark
- mark beside a box
- warning mark
Grammar Patterns
put a mark on + object
make a mark beside + item
4. a sign used in writing or print, such as a punctuation sign or an X.
a sign used in writing or print, such as a punctuation sign or an X.
Do not forget the question mark at the end of the last sentence.
question mark
Ella signed the form with a mark because her wrist was broken.
The printer left a strange mark where the comma should be.
One extra mark on the page changed the meaning of the poem.
- question mark
- punctuation mark
- make a mark instead of a signature
- character
general word for a written symbol in a text or system
Grammar Patterns
question mark
sign with a mark
Usage Note
This sense often appears in names of punctuation marks or signature marks.
5. the score a student receives for schoolwork or a test.
the score a student receives for schoolwork or a test.
Mina got full marks on the science quiz after studying all weekend.
get full marks
The teacher lowered Omar's mark because the report was late.
Our marks will appear online after the final exam meeting.
Jae was upset by a low mark in history.
- full marks
- high mark
- low mark
- exam mark
Grammar Patterns
get a mark
full marks
low mark
Usage Note
Especially common in British English; American English more often uses grade.
6. an important level or amount that someone wants to reach or pass.
an important level or amount that someone wants to reach or pass.
The charity hoped to pass the ten-thousand-dollar mark before noon.
pass the X mark
Sales climbed above the million mark during the holiday season.
Reema stopped at the five-kilometre mark for water.
The team fell below the fifty-point mark in the second half.
- million mark
- five-kilometre mark
- pass the mark
Grammar Patterns
pass the X mark
above the X mark
below the X mark
Usage Note
Often used with numbers to talk about a point reached, passed, or missed.
7. something someone does or gives that shows a feeling, attitude, or quality.
something someone does or gives that shows a feeling, attitude, or quality.
They sent fruit baskets as a mark of thanks after the operation.
a mark of thanks
His quiet visit was a mark of respect to the retired coach.
Sharing the prize money was a mark of her fairness.
The crowd's silence became a mark of grief after the announcement.
- mark of respect
- mark of thanks
- mark of grief
Grammar Patterns
a mark of + feeling/quality
Usage Note
Usually followed by of and a word for a feeling or quality.
8. the unit of money that Germany used before the euro.
the unit of money that Germany used before the euro.
My grandfather kept an old ten-mark note in his desk drawer.
ten-mark note
Travellers once changed dollars into marks before crossing into Germany.
The museum displayed coins worth five marks from the 1960s.
The guidebook still listed prices in marks in its older edition.
- German mark
- ten-mark note
- five marks
Grammar Patterns
ten marks
German mark
Usage Note
This sense is historical because Germany now uses the euro.
9. the thing that a weapon, ball, or person is aiming at.
the thing that a weapon, ball, or person is aiming at.
The archer hit the centre mark on her third shot.
hit the mark
The striker aimed at the mark but missed by a few inches.
Every dart landed close to the mark on the practice board.
The hunter kept the mark in sight through the tall grass.
- hit the mark
- miss the mark
- keep the mark in sight
- target
the most general and common word for what you aim at
Grammar Patterns
hit the mark
keep the mark in sight
Usage Note
This sense is often used in sports, hunting, and target practice.
mark — noun
1. a label used with a number to name one model in a series of machines or designs.
a label used with a number to name one model in a series of machines or designs.
The museum restored a Mark II tank for the history show.
Mark II + machine name
Engineers tested the Mark 4 drone in strong coastal wind.
Pilots said the Mark III seat was safer than the first model.
The factory replaced its old cutter with the lighter Mark V.
- Mark II tank
- Mark III seat
- Mark V model
Grammar Patterns
Mark II
Mark 4 + machine name
Usage Note
Common in names for military equipment and other technical models.
2. a number after this word showing the heat level on a gas oven.
a number after this word showing the heat level on a gas oven.
Set the oven to Mark 4 before you mix the cake batter.
set the oven to Mark 4
The recipe says Mark 6 for twenty minutes, then Mark 3.
Grandma still thinks in gas marks when she bakes bread.
Our old cooker has marks from one to eight, not degrees.
- Mark 4 oven
- gas mark
- Mark 6 for twenty minutes
Grammar Patterns
Mark 4
Mark 6 for twenty minutes
Usage Note
Mainly used in British cooking instructions for gas ovens.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For the surface-trace sense, 'mark' is the widest everyday word. It can be dirt, a burn, a line, or any other visible sign left behind. 'Stain' usually points to colour that has soaked in, such as coffee on a shirt. 'Scar' suggests lasting damage after a cut, burn, or injury. 'Scratch' is narrower still: a thin line made by something sharp. 'Spot' often means a small round area and does not strongly suggest damage. So a muddy handprint on a wall is a mark, spilled juice on a tablecloth is a stain, a line from a cat's nail is a scratch, and the line left on skin after healing is a scar.
Etymology
The noun and verb come from Old English forms meaning a boundary, sign, or visible trace. At first the idea was something that marked out a place or showed a limit. From that core meaning, English developed uses for written symbols, school scores, targets, and actions that officially remember important events.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb