What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sign
Example
The sign on the door said 'closed for renovation'. [sign: noun]
Example
She signed to her friend to come over. [signed: verb, past tense]
signal
Example
The traffic light turned green, signaling us to proceed. [signaling: verb, present participle]
Example
The ship sent out a distress signal. [signal: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sign is more commonly used than signal in everyday language. Sign is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while signal is more specific and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sign and signal?
Both sign and signal can be used in formal and informal contexts, but signal is often associated with technical or specialized language, making it more formal in certain contexts.
