signaled

verb

variants or signalled
past tense of signal
as in motioned
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 signaled Palo Alto Networks on Tuesday night ended its fiscal 2026 on a high note and signaled that the good times will continue in the new year. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 While some absences were due to ill health or politics at home and signaled in advance, analysts speculated others might be missing due to pressure from Beijing. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Despite that precedent, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the state AG lawsuit, signaled that such a condition would not be sufficient with Paramount-WBD. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 Proposals for major changes to the 2030 census may also be on their way, the administration has signaled. — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Appointments to Iran’s senior security leadership in the past month, however, have signaled Tehran’s defiance after weathering decades of sanctions. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Mansfield Timberview signaled state-title ambitions by demolishing West Mesquite 69-7, while White Settlement Brewer knocked off Class 6A Haltom 31-14 to open Class 5A play. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 The hike would keep US duties on China to around 20%, which Beijing has signaled is consistent with the countries’ trade deal. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Recent appointments of prominent Black and mixed race hair professionals to key roles at brands have signaled some change at more of a visible topline level. — Ava Welsing-Kitcher, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signaled
  1. motioned
  2. waved
  3. gestured
  4. beckoned
Verb
  • One person told police that Rodriguez was standing on the sidewalk outside the church when Rodriguez motioned for the person to fight him – after which Rodriguez approached and started swinging fists in his direction, according to court records.
    — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Councilor Jennifer Sigette motioned to keep the city meeting open so everyone would have a chance to comment, to no avail.
    — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of motioned
Verb
  • Hagerty had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Colton Hatfield waved off due to a block in the back.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026
  • According to Tisch, Cisneros then waved her knives and began to advance on the officers, who attempted to subdue the woman with a Taser before employing lethal force.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of waved
Verb
  • Trump gestured to new sod that had been laid around the helipad.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The president gestured at Nathaniel Rai, a 10-year-old who was rescued from rough surf in Santa Cruz by lifeguard Ryder Williams, who sat across from him in the Oval Office.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of gestured
Verb
  • The low-friction surface and dry desert air are conducive to speed and have beckoned drivers since the first race there in 1914.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Super Bowl has long beckoned the highest ad rates of any live TV programming.
    — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of beckoned

Browse Nearby Words

signal
signaled
signaler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Signaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signaled. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All