signals 1 of 2

Definition of signalsnext
plural of signal
1
as in flags
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

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

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signals

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of signal
as in motions
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away

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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 signals
Noun
Gorski and Murchikova then used a calibration method to remove interference from the black hole's radio signals, resulting in an image 100 times deeper and 80 times sharper than past maps. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 June 2026 The company cites this as an example of how changes in content structure and credibility signals may influence AI visibility. Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 4 June 2026 They were recorded as part of a separate science campaign seeking to gather information about the density and dynamics of the upper Martian atmosphere, which can distort radio signals that pass through it. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026 According to the Federal Communications Commission, retransmission consent requires television stations to give consent to a cable or other multichannel video programming distributor in order to carry their broadcast signals. Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 But the mixed signals Washington is giving to Belarus stand in contrast to the United States’ allies in Europe. Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026 So far, some of those signals have been really interesting. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 GLP-1s may reduce pain signals. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 June 2026 But outside experts say more work is needed to verify the pigeons navigate this way and to firm up how these signals get to the brain. ABC News, 28 May 2026
Verb
With its asking price now at $7 million, the listing remains positioned at the very top end of the Sacramento-area market — but the price cut signals the reality of selling a trophy property where history and architecture are as central to the pitch as bedrooms and square footage. David Caraccio may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026 This news signals another apparent blow to any hopes Pitt, 62, has of reconnecting with any, or most, of his children. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 Taken together, the network signals a significant upgrade in Beijing’s efforts to ensure second-strike capability, underscoring intensifying nuclear competition with the United States as tensions rise over issues such as Taiwan’s sovereignty. Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026 But while Guardiola’s departure signals the end of a remarkable chapter, there is little sense of panic around the club. Dean Jones, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Rising friction usually signals misaligned incentives, weak accountability or declining trust long before financial results show it. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 This could be the postprandial transmission of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which signals fullness to the brain, or oestrogen from the ovaries, which is sent to pubertal breast tissue, stimulating it to grow. Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Al-Khudhairi brings serious institutional credentials, deep ties to Qatar, and the kind of international curatorial résumé that signals intellectual ambition without losing sight of the market realities underneath it all. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026 This signals a shift from local opportunity to global scalability. Fmg Studios, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signals
Noun
  • That vision came to life during the festival that followed the walk; attendees danced to live music and children weaved through the crowd waving pride flags.
    Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
  • Lines of cars inch forward with flags draped from windows, their horns blaring in rhythm with rousing chants.
    Radier Odhiambo, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • With these gestures, Kokopeli pointed to technological manipulation, appropriation, and seriality as stock techniques drawn from the repertoire of contemporary art in the interest of efficient production.
    Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Pointing out the cycle of addiction while making vague gestures toward the systems that support widespread Fentanyl use doesn’t mean the surrounding story has a point of its own.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • But there are signs of real life going on too, which is always a good thing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, for example, the spectral biosignatures of carbon dioxide and methane may overlap, leading to the gasses being confused with each other and signs of life being dismissed or lost.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Reid waves a paperback around before tossing it behind his back.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026
  • Ben-Gvir waves a large Israeli flag and tells the detainees.
    Nick Duffy, NBC news, 20 May 2026

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“Signals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signals. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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