Synonyms for signal

19 synonyms
2 antonyms
1 meaning

verb
noun

Most common

indicate bespeak betoken wave invoke

All synonyms

Verb

1. Mark

mark, indicate, point, bespeak, betoken

Other

wave, flag down, hail, invoke, beckon, signalize rare UK US, signalise UK

Noun

sign, indication, alarm, beacon, motion, omen, symptom, harbinger

Antonyms

say, noise

All antonyms of signal →

Definitions

v. 1
To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal.
I signalled my acquiescence with a nod.
n. 1
A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel.

Related words

Word family: signature signet signalize signaller
Phrases: turn signal directional signal starting signal traffic signal signal box busy signal fast busy signal mixed signal

Forms

Plural: signals → signs, indications, alarms, beacons…
Past participle: signaled
e.g. signaled → marked, indicated, pointed, betokened…

Choose the right word

Signal, Sign, Signs or Signals?

While a sign may be involuntary, and even unconscious, a signal is always voluntary, and is usually concerted; a ship may show signs of distress to the casual observer, but signals of distress are a distinct appeal for aid.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

indicate Indicate size, color, and style on the order form.
wave You are my sand; I am your wave; sweat is our sea.
invoke How do we invoke a response from the computer?

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
signal		steady
indicate		falling
bespeak		steady
betoken		steady
wave		steady
invoke		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: sign¹, mark¹, wave¹, hail¹, omen²
5 letters: point¹, alarm²
6 letters: motion², beacon², invoke², beckon²
7 letters: symptom², bespeak², betoken
8 letters: indicate³
9 letters: harbinger³, signalize, signalise
10 letters: indication⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (omen² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: signaler
Deutsch: signalisieren