Sign (noun): a mark, symbol, or notice that gives information or indicates something; also an action or event that shows something is true or will happen.
Sign (verb): to write your signature on a document to show agreement or authorisation; to communicate using sign language.
What Does Sign Mean?
Sign comes from Old French signe and Latin signum, meaning "a mark, token, or standard". The Latin root also gives us signal, signature, significant, signify, and signet. The word entered Middle English around the 13th century. Note that the ‘g’ in sign is silent — it is pronounced /saɪn/ — but it reappears in spoken form in related words such as signal (/ˈsɪɡ.nəl/) and signature (/ˈsɪɡ.nɪ.tʃə/).
As a noun, sign covers three main meanings. First, a physical notice or board displaying information — a road sign, a shop sign, an exit sign. Second, an indication or piece of evidence that something is happening — a sign of tiredness, a sign of improvement. Third, a gesture or movement used to communicate, especially in formal or medical contexts. The phrase a good sign is very common in everyday spoken English and means that things are going well or as hoped.
As a verb, the most frequent use is in formal or legal contexts: you sign a contract, a letter, or a form. The phrasal verbs built on sign are especially important for learners: sign up (to register for something), sign in / sign out (to log in or log out), sign off (to formally approve or end something), and sign away (to give up rights by signing). In the UK, British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language used by the Deaf community.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| Follow the sign to the car park. | A2 — sign as a physical notice |
| A good sign of progress is when you start thinking in English. | B1 — sign as an indication of something positive |
| She signed the contract before the meeting ended. | B1 — sign as a verb in a formal context |
| The dark circles under his eyes were a sure sign that he had not slept well. | B2 — sign used with an adjective modifier in an inferential context |
| The subtle shift in his tone was an unmistakable sign that negotiations were breaking down. | C1 — sign used in a nuanced, formal register with complex inference |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| road sign | Always obey road signs, especially near schools. |
| warning sign | Fatigue is often an early warning sign of illness. |
| a good sign | Getting a call back is always a good sign. |
| sign a contract | Both parties must sign the contract before work begins. |
| sign up (for) | Sign up for our free newsletter to get weekly tips. |
| sign in / sign out | All visitors must sign in at the reception desk. |
| sign off | The manager signed off on the final report. |
| neon sign | The café had a bright neon sign in the window. |
| sign language | She learnt British Sign Language to communicate with her student. |
| no sign of | There was no sign of any damage after the storm. |
Usage Notes
Sign vs signal: A sign is typically a static indication — a notice, a symbol, or a piece of evidence. A signal is more active and deliberate, used to send a specific message in real time (a traffic signal, a hand signal, a smoke signal). Dark clouds are a sign of rain; a referee's whistle is a signal to stop.
Sign vs symptom: In everyday English these are often interchangeable. In medical English, a symptom is something the patient feels and reports (pain, dizziness), while a sign is something a doctor observes or measures (a rash, a fever). In general writing, both simply mean "an indication".
Phrasal verbs: Sign up, sign in, sign out, and sign off are all extremely common in digital and workplace English. Learn these as fixed expressions rather than trying to work out their meaning from the parts alone.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
It's a sign that things are get better. (missing -ing after verb of perception)
It's a sign that things are getting better. (use present continuous after sign that for ongoing trends)
He signed his name in the paper.
He signed his name on the paper. (use on, not in, with written documents)
Please sign-up before the event.
Please sign up before the event. (phrasal verbs are not hyphenated when used as a verb)