What does signify mean?
Word: Signify
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Signify means to be a mark of something, or to mean it.
Synonyms: mean
How do you spell signify?
Syllables: sig - ni - fy
Tricky part: The g is sounded here, sig-ni-fy, so do not leave it out and write sinify.
Watch out for: sinify, signafy, signefy
Memory tip: Signal, signature and signify all let the g be heard: if you can hear it in signal, you can hear it here too.
Signify in a sentence
Example 1: A green flag on the beach signifies that it is safe to swim.
Example 2: What does the star on the map signify?
Example 3: The ringing of the temple bell signifies the start of the evening prayer.
Fun Fact
The noun from the same family, significance, now mostly means importance, as in the significance of the monsoon for farmers.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word signify as used in the sentence:
Dark clouds over the hills often signify that rain is on its way.
a) indicate
b) delay
c) prevent
d) hide
Show answer
a) indicate. To indicate is to point to or show, as dark clouds show coming rain.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the suffix ify to make a verb. Choose it.
ify
a) sign
b) mark
c) note
d) word
Show answer
a) sign. Sign + ify gives signify; markify, wordify and noteify are not words.
Spell-o-Spell
One of these words is spelt right. Pick the meaning of that word.
1. sugest 2. reprisent 3. indicait 4. signify
a) to point out or show
b) to speak or act for others
c) to put forward an idea
d) to be a mark of, or to mean
Show answer
d) to be a mark of, or to mean. Indicate ends in ate, represent has an e after the r, and suggest has two g's.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
In many Indian homes, lighting a diya is said to fysingi the victory of light over darkness.
a) signal
b) simplify
c) dignify
d) signify
Show answer
d) signify. Dignify needs a d and simplify an m, p and l; signal has an a, so only signify fits.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does a nod of the head usually signify?
a) agreement
b) anger
c) hunger
d) sleepiness
Show answer
a) agreement
2. If a small change in the score signifies nothing, it ____.
a) must be checked again
b) makes everyone cheer
c) does not matter at all
d) decides the whole match
Show answer
c) does not matter at all
