tele·graph
ˈte-lə-ˌgraf 
1
: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals
especially
: an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire
2
: telegram
telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs
1
a
: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph
b
: to send a telegram to
c
: to send by means of a telegraphic order
2
: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance
Examples of telegraph in a Sentence
Noun
I sent the message by telegraph.
Verb
He telegraphed a message to her.
Please telegraph when you get there.
Please telegraph me when you get there.
The look on her face telegraphed bad news.
He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Kutcher, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Growing cities, rising literacy, better presses, telegraph wires, rail networks, and an expanding ad market created a world in which papers were no longer mainly rewarded for being useful to a loyal set of readers.
—Hank Green, Time, 7 May 2026
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
And so far, there’s a faction of policymakers with voting power who have telegraphed serious concerns with inflation.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for telegraph
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Noun
By our count, Americans created or supported 76 of the 100 most important inventions of the past 250 years, from the telegraph and the electric grid to the airplane, the transistor, the personal computer, and generative AI.
—Eric Kutcher, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Growing cities, rising literacy, better presses, telegraph wires, rail networks, and an expanding ad market created a world in which papers were no longer mainly rewarded for being useful to a loyal set of readers.
—Hank Green, Time, 7 May 2026
Verb
However, the twist is telegraphed so early on that there is no air of mystery, just a foreboding sense that this material is about to enter the land of sick-girl-inspires-artist clichés.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
And so far, there’s a faction of policymakers with voting power who have telegraphed serious concerns with inflation.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for telegraph
Cite this Entry
“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
telegraph
1 of 2 noun
tele·graph
ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires
telegraphic
adjective
ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik
telegraphically
adverb
-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē
telegraph
2 of 2 verb1
: to send by or as if by telegraph
telegraphed a message
2
: to send a telegram to
telegraphed home for money
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