telegraph

1 of 2

noun

tele·​graph ˈte-lə-ˌgraf How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
Synonyms of telegraphnext
1
: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals
especially : an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire
2
: telegram

telegraph

2 of 2

verb

telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs

transitive verb

1
a
: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph
b
: to send a telegram to
c
: to send by means of a telegraphic order
2
: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance
telegrapher
tə-ˈle-grə-fər How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
noun
telegraphist
tə-ˈle-grə-fist How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
noun

Examples of telegraph in a Sentence

Noun I sent the message by telegraph. Verb He telegraphed a message to her. Please telegraph when you get there. Please telegraph me when you get there. The look on her face telegraphed bad news. He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The day of the week when your lawn is serviced telegraphs rank in the neighborhood. — Ben Kesslen, Curbed, 29 June 2026 Before the first transatlantic telegraph cable, messages traveled across the ocean by steamship and took about two weeks each way. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026
Verb
Worn over a knit polo shirt, the look telegraphed even more ease. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 June 2026 Caterpillar is doing something the chart has been telegraphing for months. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for telegraph

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French télégraphe, from télé- tele- (from Greek tēle-) + -graphe -graph

First Known Use

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of telegraph was in 1793

Phrases Containing telegraph

Rhymes for telegraph

See All Rhymes for telegraph

Browse Nearby Words

telegrammic
telegraph
telegraph block
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

telegraph

1 of 2 noun
tele·​graph ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires
telegraphic
ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik
adjective
telegraphically
-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

telegraph

2 of 2 verb
1
: to send by or as if by telegraph
telegraphed a message
2
: to send a telegram to
telegraphed home for money
telegrapher
tə-ˈleg-rə-fər How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
noun
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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All