What does "signalize" mean?
To distinguish, to make noteworthy.
Signalize
/ˈsɪɡnəlaɪz/ verb
verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To distinguish, to make noteworthy.
- Grammar: signalize is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: activate, adorn, approve, argue.
- Useful contrasts: conceal, hide, ignore.
- Usage evidence: […] God has planted in man a ſenſe of ambition, and a ſatisfaction ariſing from the contemplation of his excelling his fellows in ſomething deemed valuable amongſt them. It is this paſſion that drives men to all the ways we ſee in uſe of ſignalizing themſelves, and that tends to make whatever excites in a man the idea of this diſtinction ſo very pleaſant.
How to use "signalize"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "signalize" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "signalize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "signalize" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "signalize" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "signalize" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "activate" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "signalize", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To distinguish, to make noteworthy. British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, transitive
"[…] God has planted in man a ſenſe of ambition, and a ſatisfaction ariſing from the contemplation of his excelling his fellows in ſomething deemed valuable amongſt them. It is this paſſion that drives men to all the ways we ſee in uſe of ſignalizing themſelves, and that tends to make whatever excites in a man the idea of this diſtinction ſo very pleaſant."
- 2 make conspicuous or noteworthy wordnet
- 3 To display or make known (an attribute, quality, etc.); to call attention to. British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, transitive
"[T]he great Creator hath likevviſe ſignalized his Care and Skill, by giving Animals an architectonick Faculty, to build themſelves convenient places of Retirement, in vvhich to repoſe and ſecure themſelves, and to nurſe up their Young."
- 4 point out carefully and clearly wordnet
- 5 To point out; to take special note of. British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, transitive
"This expression rex Anglorum is rightly signalised by historians as a milestone in our history."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs wordnet
- 7 To communicate with (someone) by means of a signal. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive
"a ship signalizes its consort"
- 8 provide with traffic signals wordnet
- 9 To indicate; to be a sign of. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive
"And yet... looking here at this bottle which by its number signalized the day when Colonel Freeleigh had stumbled and fallen six feet into the earth, Douglas could not find so much as a gram of dark sediment[…]"
- 10 To furnish (a traffic intersection) with a traffic signal. British, Canada, English, Oxford, US, transitive
Example
"[…] God has planted in man a ſenſe of ambition, and a ſatisfaction ariſing from the contemplation of his excelling his fellows in ſomething deemed valuable amongſt them. It is this paſſion that drives men to all the ways we ſee in uſe of ſignalizing themſelves, and that tends to make whatever excites in a man the idea of this diſtinction ſo very pleaſant."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "signalize"?
Common synonyms include: activate, adorn, approve, argue, attest, beat the drum.
How do you use "signalize" in a sentence?
[…] God has planted in man a ſenſe of ambition, and a ſatisfaction ariſing from the contemplation of his excelling his fellows in ſomething deemed valuable amongſt them. It is this paſſion that drives men to all the ways we ſee in uſe of ſignalizing themſelves, and that tends to make whatever excites in a man the idea of this diſtinction ſo very pleaſant.
How do you pronounce "signalize"?
Pronounced /ˈsɪɡnəlaɪz/.
Etymology
From signal + -ize.