Signify Meaning
/ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo create a sign out of something.
verbTo give (something) a meaning or an importance.
Sentence Examples
What does this sign signify?
What do those lights signify?
Oranges signify a happy love while lemons symbolize an unrequited one.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A red traffic light can clearly ____ that drivers must stop.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Dark clouds usually ____ that a storm is approaching.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I’ll to the king; and signify to him / That thus I have resign’d my charge to you."
— c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
"For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 25:27:
"In my humble Opinion, it would be no unseasonable Condescension, if the Government would Graciously please to signify to the pour loyal Protestant Subjects of Ireland, either that this miserable Want of Silver, is not possible to be remedy’d in any Degree […] or else, that it doth not stand with the good Pleasure of England, to suffer any Silver at all among us."
— 1729, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Sheridan, “The Hardships of the Irish being deprived of their Silver, and decoyed into America,”, in The Intelligencer, number 19, pages 207–208:
"Tapping at the window, he signified that she should open the casement, and when she had done this he handed in the key to her."
— 1886 May – 1887 April, Thomas Hardy, chapter VIII, in The Woodlanders […], volume III, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., published 1887, →OCLC, page 149:
"“Do you want to write a cheque, Granny?” The old eyes signified assent."
— 1952, Neville Shute, “Chapter Two”, in The Far Country, London: Heinemann:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A red traffic light can clearly ____ that drivers must stop.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Dark clouds usually ____ that a storm is approaching.