Home Synonyms sign

Synonyms of sign in English:

sign


See US English definition of sign

See UK English definition of sign

See Spanish definition of señal

noun

1‘flowers are often given as a sign of affection’

SYNONYMS
indication, signal, symptom, hint, pointer, suggestion, intimation, mark, manifestation, demonstration
token, testimony, evidence, attestation, proof
rare sigil

2‘it may have been a sign of things to come’

SYNONYMS
portent, omen, warning, forewarning, augury, presage
promise, threat, hint

3‘Sir Edmund made a sign, and the soldiers followed him’

SYNONYMS
gesture, signal, wave, gesticulation, cue, nod
action, movement, motion
body language, kinesics

4‘there were signs saying ‘keep out’’

SYNONYMS
notice, signpost, signboard, warning sign, road sign, traffic sign
placard, board, plate, pointer, arrow, marker, waymark, indicator
poster, bill, sticker, advertisement
informal ad
British informal advert

5‘the dancers were daubed with signs which I assumed were messages to their gods’

SYNONYMS
symbol, mark, cipher, letter, character, numeral, figure, type, code, hieroglyph
signifier, ideogram, logogram, graph
rune, diacritic, representation, emblem, device, badge, insignia, arms, coat of arms, crest, logo
writing, hieroglyphics

verb

1‘he signed the letter and put it in the envelope’

SYNONYMS
autograph, endorse, witness, initial, put one's mark on, countersign, re-sign
Law set one's hand to, subscribe
archaic underwrite, style
rare chirographate

2‘the government was unwilling to sign the agreement’

SYNONYMS
endorse, validate, certify, authenticate, authorize, sanction, legalize, put into effect, enact
agree to, approve, ratify, adopt, say yes to, give one's approval to, rubber-stamp
informal give something the go-ahead, give something the green light, OK, give something the OK, give something the thumbs up
ANTONYMS

repudiate

3‘he merely signed his name at the bottom’

SYNONYMS
write, inscribe, pen, pencil, scribble, scrawl, dash off, put, add
archaic underwrite

4‘we have signed a very talented player’

SYNONYMS
recruit, hire, engage, employ, take on, appoint, take into one's employ, take into employment, contract, put on the payroll, sign on, sign up, enrol, enlist
dated take into service
ANTONYMS

dismiss

5‘she then signed to Susan to leave’

SYNONYMS
gesture, signal, give a sign to, indicate, direct, motion, gesticulate
wave, beckon, nod

Phrases

    sign away

    ‘he had signed away the rights to his music for next to nothing’


    SYNONYMS
    relinquish, renounce, waive, give up, abandon, reject, surrender, yield, cede, hand over, turn over, do without, dispense with, put aside, set aside, abdicate, abjure, sacrifice, refuse, turn down, spurn
    sign on

    ‘he signed on for a permanent career in the Air Force’


    SYNONYMS
    enlist, take a job, sign, join, join up, join the forces, join the services, enrol, register, volunteer, put one's name down, become a member
    dated take service, go into service
    archaic take the King's shilling, take the Queen's shilling
    ANTONYMS

    resign

    sign someone on

    ‘Chapman had signed on new players in July’


    SYNONYMS
    recruit, hire, engage, employ, take on, appoint, take into one's employ, take into employment, contract, put on the payroll, sign, enrol, enlist
    dated take into service, take into one's service
    ANTONYMS

    dismiss

    sign something over

    ‘they have signed over ownership of the animals to the RSPCA’


    SYNONYMS
    transfer, turn over, make over, hand over, hand on, give, hand down, leave, bequeath, bestow, pass on, devolve, transmit, cede, deliver, assign, consign, convey, entrust
    ANTONYMS

    keep, accept