denoted; denoting; denotes
1
: to serve as an indication of : betoken
But as yet, no floating bough, no tern … to denote our proximity to land.—Herman Melville
2
: to serve as an arbitrary mark for
red flares denoting danger
3
: to make known : announce
His crestfallen look denoted his distress.
4
a
: to serve as a linguistic expression of the notion of : mean
In the Southern U.S., the word "toboggan" denotes a stocking cap.
b
: to stand for : designate
the symbol / denotes "or," "and or," or "per"
An epiphany is, literally, a showing. In Christian terminology it denotes the showing of the infant Jesus to the three Magi.—David Lodge
Cite this Entry
“Denote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denote. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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