sign
sign — noun
- signsingular
- signsplural
1. a board, panel, or piece of material placed in a public place that carries writt
a board, panel, or piece of material placed in a public place that carries written words, pictures, or symbols to give people information, directions, or warnings.
Chidi read the road sign carefully before turning left at the junction.
collocation: road sign
A metal sign on the door said 'Staff Only — Please Do Not Enter.'
The sign at the park entrance listed the opening hours and safety rules.
sign + at + location
Ritu noticed a warning sign near the construction site.
collocation: warning sign
All public buildings must have exit signs that are clearly visible.
collocation: exit sign
- road sign
- warning sign
- exit sign
- street sign
- no-smoking sign
Grammar Patterns
a/the sign + noun (signpost, signboard)
Usage Note
Often combined with a noun that describes the type of information (road sign, warning sign, exit sign, no-smoking sign).
Common Mistakes
2. a movement of a part of the body, especially the hand or head, that communicates
a movement of a part of the body, especially the hand or head, that communicates a feeling, instruction, or message without using words.
Quinn gave a thumbs-up sign to show that everything was going well.
collocation: thumbs-up sign
The librarian put a finger to her lips as a quiet sign to the noisy students.
Xiu nodded as a sign of agreement when her colleague proposed a new project deadline.
When the referee raised his hand, it was the sign for the game to begin.
sign + for + noun + to-infinitive
Adaeze waved her hand as a sign for the taxi driver to pull over.
- give a sign
- make a sign
- thumbs-up sign
- sign of agreement
Grammar Patterns
a sign of [emotion/intention]
verb + a sign (give/make a sign)
Common Mistakes
3. a full communication system based on hand shapes, facial expressions, and body m
a full communication system based on hand shapes, facial expressions, and body movements, used instead of spoken words mainly among Deaf people and those who interact with them.
Jiwoo has been learning British Sign Language for two years to communicate with her Deaf colleague.
collocation: sign language
The school offers classes in sign for hearing parents of Deaf children.
sign (uncountable, meaning sign language)
A growing number of universities now accept sign as a foreign language credit.
The weather forecast on the news was presented in sign for Deaf viewers.
- in sign
- sign language
- learn sign
- Deaf sign language
- use sign
Grammar Patterns
in sign
sign language (as a noun modifier)
Usage Note
Uncountable in this sense. Use 'sign' alone (e.g. 'in sign', 'teaches sign') or 'sign language' (capitalised when referring to a specific system such as ASL or BSL).
Common Mistakes
4. a single hand shape or movement that forms a meaningful unit within a sign langu
a single hand shape or movement that forms a meaningful unit within a sign language, standing for a specific word, letter, or idea.
The sign for 'thank you' in British Sign Language involves touching your chin with your fingertips.
sign + for + [word]
Gabriel practiced the alphabet signs until he could fingerspell his own name smoothly.
Vikram learned the sign for 'mother' by touching his thumb to his chin in ASL class.
Romi learned the sign for 'water' by tapping her index finger against her chin.
sign + for + [concept]
- sign for
- learn a sign
- make a sign
- fingerspell a sign
- hand sign
more transparent term for non-specialist contexts
- gesture
broader — can mean any meaningful movement, not necessarily in a sign language system
- fingerspelling
specifically spelling words letter by letter using hand shapes
Grammar Patterns
a sign for [word/concept]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (SIGN LANGUAGE — the language system as a whole). This sense refers to an individual gesture-unit within that system. The pattern 'the sign for [word]' is the most common frame.
5. an event, fact, or physical change that suggests that something is present, happ
an event, fact, or physical change that suggests that something is present, happening, or will happen — for example, dark clouds as a sign of coming rain, or a fever as a sign of illness.
Dark clouds are often a sign that a storm is on its way.
sign + that + clause
Lien showed no sign of nervousness before her piano performance.
show no sign of [noun]
The patient's cough is a sign that the medicine is not working properly.
Repeated absences from work can be an early sign of burnout.
sign of [noun phrase]
The garden showed clear signs of neglect long grass and dry flower beds everywhere.
- sign of
- sign that
- show signs
- no sign of
- clear sign
- early sign
- indication
slightly more formal; often used in academic or clinical contexts
- symptom
specifically a physical or mental sign of an illness or condition
- evidence
facts that prove something is true; stronger level of certainty than a sign
- clue
a piece of information that helps solve a problem or mystery
Grammar Patterns
a sign of [noun]
a sign that + clause
show signs of [noun]
Usage Note
Frequently used in the patterns 'a sign of something' and 'a sign that something is happening'. Also common in the negative phrase 'no sign of' meaning something is absent or not visible.
Common Mistakes
6. a standardised mark, shape, or drawing on a page or screen that has a fixed conv
a standardised mark, shape, or drawing on a page or screen that has a fixed conventional meaning, such as a plus sign (+) for addition or a pound sign (#) for number.
The dollar sign ($) is used before amounts of money in the United States and several other countries.
collocation: dollar sign
In mathematics, the percent sign (%) means 'out of one hundred.'
collocation: percent sign
Greta could not find the at sign (@) on the old keyboard.
The star sign (*) is used in texts to mark a footnote or an important note.
Shirin drew an equals sign (=) in the middle of the whiteboard to balance the equation.
- dollar sign
- percent sign
- plus sign
- equals sign
- at sign
Grammar Patterns
the sign for [concept]
[name of symbol] sign
Common Mistakes
7. any of the twelve equal parts of the zodiac in astrology, each linked to a parti
any of the twelve equal parts of the zodiac in astrology, each linked to a particular group of stars and believed by some to affect a person's character and fate based on their birth date.
Constanza read her horoscope to see what the stars predicted for her sign that month.
collocation: star sign / zodiac sign
Iker laughed when his sister said his Virgo sign explained why he was so organized.
Lakshmi laughed when the website said her sign was compatible with Taurus.
compatible with + [sign name]
Jason asked what sign she was, and she said she was a Gemini.
What sign are you?
- star sign
- zodiac sign
- birth sign
- your sign
- sign of the zodiac
- star sign
everyday term, more common in informal British English
- zodiac sign
slightly more formal or technical term
- house
a division of the zodiac in astrology, but not interchangeable in everyday use
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] sign
the sign of [zodiac name]
your sign
Usage Note
Commonly used in informal conversation ('What's your sign?') and in the pattern 'be a [zodiac name]' ('She is a Leo'). Also called a 'star sign'.
Common Mistakes
a sign of the times
idiomSomething that shows what modern life is like, often in a negative way.
The empty shops in our town are a sign of the times.
Is the rise of online dating a sign of the times?
sign — verb
- signpresent simple I / you / we / they
- signs3rd person singular
- signing-ing form
- signedpast simple
1. to put your signature on a document, letter, cheque, or contract, usually by han
to put your signature on a document, letter, cheque, or contract, usually by hand, to confirm that you accept its terms or that you are its creator.
Jin signed his name at the bottom of the rental agreement before handing it back.
transitive: sign + a document
Christopher signed the lease for his first apartment after checking every clause with a lawyer.
The author spent an hour signing copies of her new novel for excited readers.
transitive: sign copies / sign a book
Rafael signed the cheque and handed it across the counter.
Minh and her landlord both signed the rental application form at the housing office.
- sign a contract
- sign a document
- sign a cheque
- sign an agreement
- sign here
- autograph
specifically signing something as a celebrity or famous person for a fan
- countersign
to sign a document that someone else has already signed, to confirm it
- endorse
to sign the back of a cheque to receive payment, or to publicly support something
Grammar Patterns
sign + noun (document, cheque, contract)
sign + for + delivery
sign + adverb (sign here)
Usage Note
Often used transitively with a document as the object (sign a contract, sign a cheque, sign a form). The intransitive use usually includes a location adverb (sign here, sign at the bottom).
Common Mistakes
2. in sports, to enter into a formal written agreement that makes a player a member
in sports, to enter into a formal written agreement that makes a player a member of a team, usually in exchange for a fee or salary.
The basketball team signed a young player from the national college league.
sign + player + from + [source]
Real Madrid signed Rafael for a reported transfer fee of sixty million euros.
The club hopes to sign two experienced defenders before the winter window closes.
After months of talks between the teams, the striker was finally signed by a Premier League side.
passive: was signed by [team]
Dahlia was scouted at sixteen and signed by the national youth academy.
- sign a player
- sign from
- sign for a fee
- sign a contract
- new signing
Grammar Patterns
sign + player
sign + player + from + team
sign + player + for + amount
Usage Note
Frequently used in sports journalism and commentary. The passive construction ('was signed by [team]') is very common. The subject can be a team, club, or manager; the object is the player.
Common Mistakes
3. to give information, an instruction, or a request to someone using a deliberate
to give information, an instruction, or a request to someone using a deliberate movement of the hand, arm, or head instead of speaking.
The tour guide signed to the group to stay quiet as they entered the temple.
sign + to + person + to-infinitive
Sari signed for the taxi to wait while she ran back into the shop.
sign + for + noun + to-infinitive
The librarian signed that the reading room would close in five minutes.
sign + that-clause
Élise signed across the busy restaurant, asking her friend to pass the salt.
The police officer signed for the driver to pull over to the side of the road.
- sign to
- sign for
- sign that
- sign across the room
Grammar Patterns
sign + to/at + person
sign + for + person + to-infinitive
sign + that-clause
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 4 (USE SIGN LANGUAGE). This sense refers to informal everyday gestures, not a full grammatical language system. The objects of 'sign to' are people; 'sign for' is followed by a thing or action.
Common Mistakes
4. to express thoughts and ideas through a sign language — any of the complete visu
to express thoughts and ideas through a sign language — any of the complete visual communication systems with established grammar, used mainly among Deaf people.
Antonia learned to sign when her younger sister was born profoundly deaf.
learn to sign
The conference provided interpreters who could sign for deaf attendees.
sign + for + person (as interpreter)
Babies can sometimes sign before they learn to speak, using simple gestures for basic needs.
Tamás signed slowly so the beginner could follow the conversation more easily.
The news anchor signed the daily headlines for viewers who are Deaf.
- learn to sign
- sign fluently
- sign for
- sign to
- sign in [language]
- use sign language
more explicit, useful for learners unfamiliar with 'sign' as a verb
- fingerspell
specifically spelling words letter by letter using hand shapes, not full signing
- interpret
translating between a spoken language and a sign language, usually professionally
Grammar Patterns
sign + adverb (fluently, slowly)
sign + to + person
learn to sign
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (GESTURE — everyday hand movements). This sense requires knowledge of an actual sign language with grammar rules. 'Sign' as an intransitive verb in this sense is very common ('She signs fluently').
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words involve writing one's name, but they differ in context and scope. 'Sign' is the everyday verb for putting your name on any document, from a credit card receipt to a job contract — it is the only one used for confirming legal or financial agreements. 'Autograph' is specifically for celebrities signing something as a keepsake for a fan, not for official documents. 'Endorse' has two separate meanings: in finance, it means signing the back of a cheque so it can be cashed; in public life, it means giving public support to a product or candidate, often without actually writing anything. 'Countersign' is a formal, less common term for adding a second signature to a document already signed by someone else, as a confirmation or approval. For daily use: if you are just putting your name on a document, use 'sign'. If a famous person signs for a fan, use 'autograph'. If a public figure promotes a product, use 'endorse'.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'sign' entered English through Old French 'signe', which came from Latin 'signum' meaning 'a mark, token, indication, or distinguishing feature'. In Latin, 'signum' could refer to a military standard, a seal, a signal, or even a constellation. The verb sense developed from the noun: 'to mark with a sign' gradually narrowed to 'to mark with one's signature' by the late Middle Ages. The modern noun senses — from a notice board to a zodiac division — all trace back to the core idea of something that points to or represents something else.