signal 1 of 3

Definition of signalnext
1
as in flag
an object intended to give public notice or warning stop signs are signals for vehicles to come to a full stop—not suggestions for slowing down, as some drivers seem to think

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in gesture
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling quietly waiting for the signal to advance

Synonyms & Similar Words

signal

2 of 3

verb

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away

Synonyms & Similar Words

signal

3 of 3

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of signal
Noun
Ace Reputation’s models are trained not just to recognize explicit falsehoods, but to identify subtler distortions - context shifts, narrative framing, and the early signals of viral propagation, Gaurav claims. Wyles Daniel may 19, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 The brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus triggers a brief melatonin-adjacent signal roughly six to eight hours after waking, per RWJBarnabas Health. Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026
Verb
Dan Loeb Dan Loeb, the billionaire financier and Los Angeles-area native, has joined the growing list of prominent figures backing Pratt’s mayoral campaign, signaling broader support from influential business leaders frustrated with the city’s direction, according to the New York Times. Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 Ryan Wrasse, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, signaled plans to revise the legislation. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for signal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signal
Noun
  • The kit features black shorts and the signature red and white striped jersey, while off-the-field gear includes black hoodies, T-shirts and baseball hats, in addition to scarves evoking the bloke-core aesthetics, and a flag.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
  • Another promotional video for Rededicate 250 blends various Christian and American imagery — scenes of a cross laid on an American flag, a robed choir, people raising their hands in worship — along with a brief scene of a man praying while wearing a Jewish skullcap.
    Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The unexpected, sweet gesture instantly changed the tone in the room.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • The film eliminated even a gesture toward a plot while showing solitary nonprofessional and real-life ranch-hand Misael Saavedra chopping and hauling logs in the Argentinian hinterlands (in actuality, Alonso’s family’s ranch).
    Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Another incident identified by police allegedly occurred on March 27, when Berrios-Otero allegedly motioned for a 4-year-old child to sit on his lap and directed him to get a blanket, according to the warrant affidavits.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • Referee Kelly Sutherland immediately ruled it a legal goal and motioned to say Hunt pushed the Avs captain into his own goalie.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • But Jeffries, an outstanding student who typically went straight home from baseball practice to study, remained more of a spectator than a participant in the borough’s burgeoning hip-hop scene.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were outstanding, and Sam Merrill hit huge corner 3s in the first half to break Detroit’s spirit early.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • He’s gone from being a disposable asset in Vegas, which shipped him to Toronto in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner on July 1, to being coveted in Colorado at the trade deadline when the Avs acquired him to be their third-line center.
    Nate Peterson, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
  • The initial investigation into the billionaire’s death by Spanish authorities was closed in January 2025, and deemed an accident with no signs of any criminal wrongdoing.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Now, Hilton rarely deviates from her signature look, of which long, perfectly curled or waved blonde hair is a key element.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 May 2026
  • After landing her final move, Liu waved and bowed to each corner of the arena, leaving no section without attention.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • As a result, Istanbul Vita is recognized by many patients as a distinguished hair transplant clinic in Turkey, and the clinic received the Best Hair Transplant Clinic in Europe (2023) award.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 20 May 2026
  • How Presidential Taxes Normally Work While the President holds a distinguished position in office, the IRS treats him the same as any other taxpayer.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • The topic of filmmaking between industry and vision’ and the current tensions between creation, industry and authorship will be further expanded at ECAM Forum’s The State of Things conference strand organized by the industry arm of Madrid’s prestigious ECAM film school.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 22 May 2026
  • Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences together with the Crafoord Foundation, the prize is one of the world’s most prestigious scientific honors outside the Nobel Prize system.
    Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Signal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signal. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on signal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster