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to mark

to mark

111 1.0
Make a visible line, spot, or sign on a surface
  • verb
  • /mɑrk/
: marcar
  • Please mark the spot where you want me to dig.
  • mark the boundaries
  • mark off the territory
  • mark with circles

Do you use tools to mark the wood?

Examples

  • The line itself had knots tied in it to mark the water depth in fathoms.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The immediate postwar years, in fact, did mark the apogee of the Americanization movement.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Oh no, we're going to mark the location right here.

  • So it's great for our white sink because it does mark quite easily.

  • The presence or absence of items was marked on a review form developed for the study.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I'm not going to find a way to mark the height that she needs.

  • The dotted line on your leg marks the spot.

  • All exits are clearly marked.

  • Large banners and decorative gates mark the entries to some particularly exotic streets.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Each of their granite coffins marks the lives of a pair of sacred virgin twins.

Synonyms

to line
vsto mark
439 2.1

To form a row along the edge of something

is broader, covering more types of visible signs than only strokes
to scratch
vsto mark
100 1.1

To cut or mark a surface by scraping it with something sharp

is usually less about cutting and more about general visible signs
to check
vsto mark
  • US
80 1.0

Mark a box to show it is chosen or finished

is used as a broad visible sign not always for lists or selection
to trace
vsto mark
41 2.8

To draw lines along the outside of a shape

is more general and not limited to following an outline
to check off
vsto mark
30 2.5

Mark an item on a list to show it is done

is a general visible sign not limited to list completion symbols
to dot
vsto mark
25 1.0

To put a small round mark on something

is not limited to tiny round signs and covers many visible forms
to tick
vsto mark
  • UK
19 2.0

To mark a box with a check to show it is chosen or complete

is a specific list or selection symbol rather than any kind of visible sign
to streak
vsto mark
18 2.8

To mark something with long thin lines of a different color

is broader and applies to any visible sign not only long thin lines
to tick off
vsto mark
  • UK
11 3.7

Mark something with a check to show it is done

is used for indicating completed tasks on lists rather than any visible sign
to ink
vsto mark
11 2.4

To mark something with a colored liquid used for writing

is specific to using liquid pigment rather than other ways to leave a visible sign
to score
vsto mark
10 7.0

To make shallow cuts on a surface to help parts join together

is about shallow cutting for a purpose rather than merely leaving a visible sign
to letter
vsto mark
7 7.7

To write words or names on a surface

is about alphabet characters or writing rather than any simple visible sign
to impress
vsto mark
6 4.5

To press a design into a surface

is done by pressing a design into material, not by ordinary surface signs
to mark off
vsto mark
4 3.4

To draw lines or put tape to show the edge of an area

is focused on creating boundaries for division rather than any simple visible sign
to spot
vsto mark
3 2.2

To make a small mark or stain on something

is used generally for visible signs and not always meant for identification
to scribe
vsto mark
3 7.4

To mark a surface with a sharp point or write something carefully by hand

is less about careful lines and more about any visible sign or impression
to blotch
vsto mark
1 5.3

To mark something with irregular spots of a different color

is more about irregular patches rather than any clear line or impression
to pockmark
vsto mark
1 7.9

To mark something with small scar-like pits caused by disease or damage

is not about making pits or scars but any visible sign or line
to Sharpie
vsto mark
  • Informal
1 4.8

To mark something with a permanent marker pen

is specific to using a permanent marker rather than any method of leaving a sign
to bespeckle
vsto mark
9.6

To mark something with small spots

is focused on many small points rather than single or larger visible signs

Antonyms

19 1.6

Remove marks, writing, or digital files so they are no longer visible

Idioms

to mark my words
  • Informal
38 7.0

Tell someone to pay attention because what you say will happen

18 6.5

Not accurate or correct

8 4.1

To get noticed for your work in an area, for example in art or business

1 7.1

Not accurate or correct

Fast to act or respond at the start of a situation

Almost correct but missing some details

1 6.7

Not quick to notice things or begin actions

1 8.3

To warn someone so they are ready for what will happen

1 4.8

Get recognition and success in a field

Phrasal Verbs

to leave a mark
  • Informal
26 3.9

To have a lasting effect on a person or thing that people notice

Fail to do what you meant to do

to mark down
  • Texting
11 4.8

To use simple symbols in plain text to make it look like formatted text

8 2.5

To lower the price of something

8 4.0

Show the edges of an area, for example with string or chalk

To do something special to celebrate an important event

Write down a date so you remember an event

6 3.2

To put a line or tick next to an item to show it is finished

to mark time
  • Informal
5 6.3

Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things

4 3.4

To draw lines or put tape to show the edge of an area

4 3.5

To raise the price of something so it sells for more money

To behave in a way people think is not acceptable

To show the line that separates two places

To start making progress after a time of little or no activity

Compounds

56 1.0

A mark placed at the end of a sentence to show it is a question

18 3.2

A dark line on a road where a tire slides during a sudden stop

15 3.7

A narrow line on the skin that appears after fast weight gain or pregnancy

14 2.4

A dark spot on skin or cloth made when something hot touches it

Small signs in writing used to show the exact words someone said or a short title like a song

easy mark
  • Offensive
11 7.1

A person others can easily trick or cheat

10 5.8

A thing that makes people think less of someone

The highest point something reaches, like water level or success

5 1.1

A mark at the end of a sentence that shows strong feeling or a loud command

The money used in Germany before the euro

4 1.0

A small mark like ✓ that shows something is correct or finished

4 4.0

Money used in Germany before the euro arrived in 2002

A strong lasting memory or effect you cannot forget

A symbol like a period or comma that separates sentences and shows meaning

A short book in the New Testament that tells about Jesus's life and teachings

mark of Cain
  • Literature
1 9.9

A sign that makes someone look guilty or an outcast

hash mark
  • Texting
1 2.8

The sign '#' used before words to make hashtags and on phone keypads

1 6.4

A metal or stone mark in the ground that shows a known height to measure land

1 4.9

A mark that an animal with hard feet makes in soft ground

A short New Testament book that tells about Jesus's life and teachings

1 7.6

A permission to leave work or an event earlier than usual

1 3.4

A mark placed above or below a letter to show which syllable is strong and how to say it

hash mark
  • Jargon
1 6.8

A short stripe on a uniform that shows years of service

diacritical mark
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A small sign written on a letter to show how to say it or to change its meaning

1 1.0

A sign $ that you put before a number to show dollars

The lowest or worst point in a situation

chatter mark
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A small groove or dent left by repeated movement, like a glacier scraping rock

A soft red raised birthmark on a baby's skin that looks like a strawberry

A government paper that lets a private ship owner capture enemy ships and goods during war

A visible line showing the lowest level reached by water

ripple mark
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A small raised line in sand made by moving water or wind

ditto mark
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A mark used to show that the word or number above is repeated

stress mark
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A small sign above a syllable that shows which part to say more strongly

1 9.9

A small stamped sign on a gold or silver item that shows its purity and maker

Plimsoll mark
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A painted line on the side of a ship that shows how high it can be safely loaded

8.4

A code written on a book to show where it is on the library shelves

check mark
  • Texting
3.4

A small blue symbol next to a profile that shows the account is real

azimuth mark
  • Specialized
9.9

A mark on the ground that shows the exact direction from a survey station to true North

The money Finland used before it changed to the euro in 2002

lubber's mark
  • Specialized
9.9

A fixed line on a compass that shows the ship's direction

mark 1 eyeball
  • Informal
9.6

A person's own sight used to check something without machines

high-water mark
  • Specialized
5.8

The highest level of computer memory or disk a program reaches

7.1

A mark left in soft ground by an animal's foot like a horse

A way to write text that tells a web page how to look and where links go

6.7

A small cloth or badge on the shoulder of a uniform that shows rank

How Visible

to scar
28 3.4
to stain
46 3.2
to scratch
100 1.1
to mark
111 1.0
to smudge
33 3.7
to dot
25 1.0
to dab
26 2.8

Surface Forms

mark infinitive
marked past
marked past participle
marking present participle
marks third person singular

Etymology

Mark comes from an old word meaning 'sign' or 'border', so to mark something is to make a visible sign, line, or spot on it.