Standard Lemma guide

denote

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈnəʊt/
  • General-American: /dɪˈnoʊt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊt
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 N OW1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To indicate; to mark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The yellow blazes denote the trail.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make overt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To refer to literally; to convey as objective meaning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The prefix pre- denotes "before", as in preview.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

have as a meaning

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `multi-' denotes `many'

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: refer

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mean, intend, signify, stand for

Narrower terms: twist, twist around, pervert, convolute, sophisticate, euphemize, euphemise, hark back, return, come back, recall, name, identify, apply, slur, express, state

5

verb

Meaning 5

be a sign or indication of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her smile denoted that she agreed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: designate, denominate

6

verb

Meaning 6

make known; make an announcement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She denoted her feelings clearly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: announce

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inform

Narrower terms: denounce, meld, report, cry, blazon out, trump, trump out, blare out, blat out, call out, advertise, publicize, advertize, publicise, post, sound

History

Etymology

From Middle French denoter, from Latin denotare, from de- (“complete”) and notare (“to mark out”).

Across languages

Translations

72 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: означавам (označavam) — to indicate, mark
  • Catalan: denotar — to indicate, mark
  • Chinese Mandarin: 表示 (biǎoshì) — to indicate, mark
  • Chinese Mandarin: 意为 — to indicate, mark
  • Dutch: aangeven — to indicate, mark
  • Finnish: merkitä — to indicate, mark
  • Finnish: tarkoittaa — to indicate, mark
  • Finnish: osoittaa — to indicate, mark
  • French: dénoter — to indicate, mark
  • French: indiquer — to indicate, mark
  • French: marquer — to indicate, mark
  • Galician: denotar — to indicate, mark
  • German: markieren — to indicate, mark
  • German: kennzeichnen — to indicate, mark
  • German: bezeichnen — to indicate, mark
  • German: anzeigen — to indicate, mark
  • German: formalisieren — to indicate, mark
  • Ancient Greek: σημαίνω (sēmaínō) — to indicate, mark
  • Ingrian: merkitä — to indicate, mark
  • Ingrian: tähentää — to indicate, mark
  • Irish: cuir in iúl — to indicate, mark
  • Italian: indicare — to indicate, mark
  • Italian: denotare — to indicate, mark
  • Norwegian: betegne — to indicate, mark
  • Persian: نشان دادن (nešân dâdan) — to indicate, mark
  • Portuguese: denotar — to indicate, mark
  • Portuguese: indicar — to indicate, mark
  • Russian: отмеча́ть (otmečátʹ) — to indicate, mark
  • Russian: обознача́ть (oboznačátʹ) — to indicate, mark
  • Russian: различа́ть (različátʹ) — to indicate, mark
  • Russian: отлича́ть (otličátʹ) — to indicate, mark
  • Spanish: señalar — to indicate, mark
  • Spanish: denotar — to indicate, mark
  • Spanish: marcar — to indicate, mark
  • Ukrainian: позначати (poznačaty) — to indicate, mark
  • Welsh: dynodi — to indicate, mark
  • Bulgarian: показвам (pokazvam) — to make overt
  • Bulgarian: издавам (izdavam) — to make overt
  • Dutch: aanduiden — to make overt
  • Finnish: ilmaista — to make overt
  • Finnish: paljastaa — to make overt
  • German: preisgeben — to make overt
  • German: offenlegen — to make overt
  • German: offenbaren — to make overt
  • German: aufdecken — to make overt
  • Italian: rivelare — to make overt
  • Persian: فاش کردن (fâš kardan) — to make overt
  • Portuguese: revelar — to make overt
  • Russian: пока́зывать (pokázyvatʹ) — to make overt
  • Russian: ука́зывать (ukázyvatʹ) — to make overt
  • Russian: свиде́тельствовать (svidételʹstvovatʹ) — to make overt
  • Spanish: revelar — to make overt
  • Dutch: betekenen — to convey as meaning
  • Finnish: merkitä — to convey as meaning
  • Finnish: tarkoittaa — to convey as meaning
  • French: dénoter — to convey as meaning
  • French: signifier — to convey as meaning
  • German: bedeuten — to convey as meaning
  • German: symbolisieren — to convey as meaning
  • Ancient Greek: σημαίνω (sēmaínō) — to convey as meaning
  • Italian: significare — to convey as meaning
  • Norwegian: angi — to convey as meaning
  • Portuguese: denotar — to convey as meaning
  • Portuguese: indicar — to convey as meaning
  • Russian: зна́чить (znáčitʹ) — to convey as meaning
  • Russian: означа́ть (označátʹ) — to convey as meaning
  • Russian: символизи́ровать (simvolizírovatʹ) — to convey as meaning
  • Spanish: significar — to convey as meaning
  • Spanish: denotar — to convey as meaning
  • Ukrainian: означати (označaty) — to convey as meaning
  • Welsh: dynodi — to convey as meaning
  • Welsh: golygu — to convey as meaning
Real reading context

denote in complete knowledge articles