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semaphore

[sem-uh-fawr, -fohr] / ˈsɛm əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Whenever someone got into trouble, Barron would unfurl her semaphore flags and signal for help.

From Seattle Times May 30, 2024

We also found semaphore flags, a vastly outdated way to communicate between units.

From BBC Feb. 22, 2023

You’ve probably seen the semaphore system where years ago people in uniform waved handheld flags to convey messages.

From Washington Post Oct. 28, 2022

Mary stops by daily to deliver food, standing so far from me that we should use semaphore flags.

From New York Times Jan. 17, 2022

He’s doing pretend semaphore, waving his arms in ornate patterns as if I’m supposed to understand some kind of secret code.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

And they’re off: Back from his spell in self-isolation and having passed all his Covid-19 tests, Christian Prudhomme emerges from his Skoda’s sun-roof and semaphores the signal to start to racing.

From The Guardian Sep. 15, 2020

It undermines the piety and ethical lapses in nonfiction mystery shows, while sharing with “Three Billboards” a belief in semaphores and that people aren’t any one thing.

From New York Times Jan. 18, 2018

But he can slay without words: His eyebrows are semaphores, his left hand a weapon that can dismiss a subject with a quiver.

From Washington Post May 24, 2016

The kids on Bandstand mimicked its manual semaphores and danced to its perky rhythm, eerily similar to Bo Diddley’s signature chugging backbeat.

From Time Jan. 19, 2012

Enrique's Journey Then he sees switches and semaphores.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

The start of today’s race has been semaphored and a group of six riders have attacked off the front of the bunch.

From The Guardian Jul. 11, 2019

With these ones ripped up and destroyed, and made into something else entirely, they perhaps semaphored a new era.

From The Guardian Sep. 9, 2014

Elsewhere in the opening episode nothing happened that wasn't first semaphored in the previous scene.

From The Guardian Feb. 27, 2011

Then, languidly raising his hairy legs and wagging them like flags, the old hand semaphored a request for jam to a pal in the port mizzen.

From Time Magazine Archive

I went near the ship and semaphored directions for her to get to this place as soon as she could, using steam if necessary.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Robert Falcon Scott

Even taskmaster Guardiola was spied clapping on the touchline at one point instead of being his usual manic semaphoring self.

From The Guardian Nov. 5, 2016

The further we get from past events the more they seem to be wildly semaphoring messages to us about our news agenda.

From The Guardian Jul. 13, 2013

Apple employees may not talk much, but they’ve been semaphoring pretty furiously lately.

From Forbes Jul. 8, 2011

At the same time, audacious native-born stage directors like Peter Sellars and Francesca Zambello have replaced the old histrionic semaphoring with bold, psychologically penetrating productions starring fine singing actors like June Anderson and James Morris.

From Time Magazine Archive

I half expected to see the few remaining insects circling him and semaphoring their romantic intentions.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly




Vocabulary lists containing semaphore


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