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Meaning & use

signing

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈsaɪnɪŋ/
US/ˈsaɪnɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    Communicating with hand movements and facial expressions, as deaf people do.

    Grammar: No plural and no article: signing helps deaf students join discussions.

    Patterns

    • signing for someone

    The class offers an introduction to signing for beginners.

    Her signing was so fluid that the audience followed every word.

    Interpreters provided signing at the concert.

  2. nouncountable or uncountable

    The act of putting your signature on a document.

    Grammar: Often with of or a ceremony: the signing of the contract.

    Patterns

    • the signing of something
    • a signing ceremony

    The signing of the treaty took place in the main hall.

    Both parties attended the signing.

    Contracts must be checked carefully before signing.

  3. nouncountablesportBritish

    A person or group newly hired by a sports team, music label or similar organization.

    Grammar: Mainly British in sport: the club's new signing.

    Patterns

    • a new signing

    The club's biggest signing arrived from Spain.

    The label announced the band as its latest signing.

    He has been an excellent signing for the team.

  4. nouncountable

    An event where an author writes their name in copies of a book for fans.

    Grammar: Usually in book signing: a signing at the bookstore.

    Patterns

    • a book signing

    The author held a signing at the local bookshop.

    Fans lined up for hours at the signing.

    The signing starts at noon.

Word forms

pluralsignings

Common combinations

book signing
She attended a book signing downtown.
signing ceremony
A signing ceremony was held in the capital.
new signing
The manager praised his new signing.
signing bonus
He received a large signing bonus.
learn signing
Many parents learn signing to talk with their deaf child.

Synonyms and how they differ

sign language
Sign language names the language itself, while signing is the act of using it.
recruit
Recruit stresses bringing someone into a group, while a signing is someone who has just put their name to a contract.
autographing
Autographing refers to signing a name for fans, while signing is broader and also covers legal documents.

Word family

sign verb
to write your name or communicate by gesture
signature noun
a person's name written in their own hand
signer noun
a person who signs, whether documents or in sign language
signatory noun
a person or country that has signed an agreement

Commonly confused: signing or singing?

signing vs singing

Singing is making music with the voice; one letter differs from signing, which is gestural language or putting a name on paper.

Practice

The deaf students followed the lecture through the interpreter's ______.

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