mark

MAHRK/mɑɹk/UKMAHK/mɑːk/

Verbmarks, marking, marked

Noun pluralmarks, mark

58 meanings of mark

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To write or draw a sign, label, or line on something so people can recognize it or find a place.
Please mark each box with your name.
He marked his tools with red paint so no one would borrow them.
UsageSay mark it with a date or a name.
Similarlabel, tag, stamp
2
verbtransitive
To be the time or place where something happens, or to happen at the same time as it.
Graduation days mark the end of school and the start of something new.
Her first job marked a big change in her life.
UsageSay an event marks the start of or the end of something.
Similarrepresent
Note
3
visible tracenouncountable
A spot, line, or stain left on a surface.
Like the muddy print a shoe leaves on a clean floor.
There was a dirty mark on the wall near the door.
The wet glass left a ring-shaped mark on the table.
Similarblemish, spot, scratch, stain
4
show whereverbtransitive
To show that something is there, or to show where it is.
Like an X on a treasure map that shows where to dig.
A small cross marks the spot where they buried the treasure.
These stones mark the edge of the property.
Similarshow, indicate, signal
Note
5
celebrateverbtransitive
To do something special to celebrate or remember an event.
Like blowing out candles to celebrate a birthday.
They mark their anniversary with a quiet dinner every year.
The town marked the holiday with a big parade.
UsageSay mark a day with a party.
Similarcommemorate, celebrate, solemnize
Note
6
nouncountable
A sign or line used to show a point for measuring or finding your place.
Like the lines on a ruler that show each inch.
Fill the cup up to the mark on the side.
The builder made a mark on the wall to show the right height.
UsageSay the 500ml mark, or fill it to the mark.
Similarline, marker, notch
7
nouncountable
An effect that someone or something has on a person, place, or kind of work that lasts a long time.
My first piano teacher left a real mark on me, and I still use her advice.
He moved to New York to make his mark as a chef.
UsageSay make your mark (become known) and leave a mark on someone (have a lasting effect).
Similarimpression, imprint, impact, influence
8
school scorenouncountable
A score given for a correct answer or for school work.
Like the number of points you score in a game.
She got a high mark on her spelling test.
You need a passing mark to move up a level.
UsageSay 10 marks out of 20. You get a good mark.
Similargrade, score, point
9
written symbolnouncountable
A written sign or symbol, such as a letter or a piece of punctuation.
Like the dot you put over the letter i.
Add a question mark at the end of that sentence.
The teacher drew a small mark above the vowel.
Similarsymbol, sign, character
10
sports recordnouncountable
A score or record that someone reaches in a sport or game.
Like the highest line on a wall showing the tallest jump so far.
Her jump set a new mark for the school.
He beat the old mark by two full seconds.
Similarrecord, score
11
maker's stampnouncountable
A stamp that shows where something was made or how good it is.
Like a sticker that shows a toy passed a safety test.
The silver spoon carried a maker's mark on its handle.
Look for the quality mark before you buy the gold ring.
Similarhallmark, stamp, seal
Note
12
typical traitnouncountable
A sign or quality that shows what someone or something is like, or that something is there.
Like the stripes that tell you an animal is a zebra.
Kindness was the true mark of her character.
Neat handwriting is a mark of careful work.
UsageSay the mark of a good teacher.
Similarsign, hallmark, trademark, indication
Note
13
verbtransitive
To be a typical sign or feature of something.
Like dark clouds that show a storm is coming.
Kindness and humor mark everything she does.
A love of bright colors marks all of his paintings.
UsageWe often say marked by: a day marked by rain.
Similarcharacterize, typify
Note
14
the barnouncountable
A level or limit that sets the standard for what is good enough.
Like a line on the ground that you must jump past to win.
His work was not up to the mark this week.
Their effort fell short of the mark.
UsageSay up to the mark for good enough.
Similarstandard, level, benchmark, target, par
Note
15
verbtransitive
To show that someone is a certain kind of person, or to make them different from others.
Like a uniform that tells everyone what job a person does.
Her calm voice under pressure marked her as a natural leader.
Small habits can mark a newcomer as an outsider very quickly.
UsageSay something marks you as a kind of person.
Similaridentify, distinguish, characterize
Note
16
verbtransitive
To make a spot, line, or stain on a surface.
Like leaving a muddy footprint on a clean floor.
Drag the chalk to mark a long line across the floor.
Don't set your wet cup there, or it will mark the table.
Similardraw, trace
Note
17
classifyverbtransitive
To place someone into a certain group or class.
Like sorting toys into different boxes by size.
Some teachers mark quiet children as shy without really knowing them.
The school marked him as a slow reader, which hurt his confidence.
Similarclassify

Less common meanings

18
model versionnouncountable
A particular model or version of a made item, often shown with a number.
The Mark 3 version of this tractor has a much bigger engine.
Soldiers were issued the latest mark of rifle.
UsageWrite Mark with a capital M before the number: Mark II.
Similarmodel, version, type
Note
19
targetnouncountable
Something you aim at and try to hit with an arrow or a shot.
Like the round target you throw darts at.
The archer's arrow flew straight to the mark.
The young hunter aimed his rifle and hit the mark.
UsageSay a shot finds its mark. For the thing you aim at, say target.
Similartarget
Note
20
nouncountable
The line where an athlete waits to start, for example at the beginning of a race.
On your mark, get set, go!
The runners stepped up to their marks and waited for the starter.
UsageRunners take their marks before a race.
Similarline
Note
21
con victimnouncolloquialcountable
A person who is easy to fool and is picked as the target of a cheating scheme.
Like the fish a fisherman hopes will bite the hook.
The pickpocket chose a sleepy traveler as his mark.
She realized too late that she was the mark in their scheme.
UsagePeople say an easy mark for someone easy to cheat.
Similarsucker, dupe, victim, patsy, target
Note
22
nouncountable
An official note added to a record about how someone behaves or performs.
Like a black dot next to your name that everyone can see.
The student got a bad mark for being late.
One more mark on his record could cost him the job.
UsageSay a mark for being late, or a black mark.
Similardemerit, strike
Note
23
lasting harmverbfigurativelytransitive
To affect someone deeply in a bad way for a long time.
Like a deep scar that stays long after the cut has healed.
The war marked an entire generation.
Losing his home will mark him for years.
UsageSay marked by a bad time: marked by war.
Similarscar, taint, stain, blight, damage
Note
24
take noteverbtransitive
To pay attention to something or someone and take note of it.
Like turning up the volume so you don't miss what someone says.
Mark my words, that plan will fail.
That dog will bite someone one day, mark my words.
UsagePeople say mark my words before a warning. Elsewhere say notice.
Similarobserve, watch, heed
Oppositeignore, disregard
Note
25
German moneynounhistoricalcountable
A type of money once used in Germany before the euro.
Like the dollar in America, but used in Germany long ago.
Her grandfather kept a few old marks in a drawer.
Aus der Geschichte der menschlichen Dummheit. By Dr. Max Kemmerich. Price 3 mark 50 pfennige. Bavaria: Verlag Albert Langen, Munich.
1928, “Reviews”, in The Occult ReviewHere, mark means the money once used in Germany.
UsageMore than one is marks, or sometimes mark after a number.
SimilarDeutschmark
Note
26
verbtransitive
In sports, to stay close to a player on the other team so they cannot easily get a pass.
The coach told me to mark their fastest player for the whole game.
She was marked so closely that she hardly touched the ball.
Similarguard, cover
Note
27
verbCanadaUKtransitive
To check school work for mistakes and give it a score.
Like a teacher checking your test and writing a score on top.
Teachers mark the exams over the weekend.
She marked thirty essays last night.
UsageAmericans usually say grade.
Similargrade, score
Note
28
symbol of honornouncountable
A badge or sign that shows a person's honor, rank, or official job.
Like a sheriff's star that shows who is in charge.
The gold badge was a mark of his high rank.
A crown is a mark of royal power.
Similarbadge, emblem, symbol, sign, token
29
keep countverbtransitive or intransitive
To keep count or a record of something, such as a score.
Like counting points with lines on paper so you don't lose track.
Please mark the score after every round.
On the golf course, Dad marked my card after every hole.
Similarrecord, register, tally, log, score
Note
30
verbtransitive
To choose a person for a certain purpose or future.
The boss marked her for promotion after her first big sale.
Some coaches mark a young player for greatness early on.
UsageSay mark someone for something.
Similartarget, destine
Note
31
nounUKIrelandcountable
A number on a gas oven's dial that shows how hot the oven is set.
Heat the oven to mark 6 before you put the cake in.
Bake the bread at mark 7 for about half an hour.
UsageSay gas mark 4, with the number after.
Note
32
nouncountable
In rugby and Australian football, a clean catch straight from a kick, which earns the catcher a free kick.
He jumped high above the pack and took a great mark.
She took three marks in the first quarter alone.
Similarcatch
Note
33
nounobsolete
The line where one land ends and another begins.
34
nounobsolete
A post or fence that shows where land ends.
35
noun
A stone or post that helps people find their way.
36
nounarchaic
A small border land ruled by a prince.
There dwells Théoden son of Thengel, King of the Mark of Rohan.
1954, J R R Tolkien, The Two Towers
37
noun
Land that a whole village shared, as among early Germanic tribes.
38
noun
A sign put on a person's body, for example by burning, cutting or painting.
39
nounobsolete
Something that looks like something else.
40
nounobsolete
A woman's private parts.
A mark saies my Lady. Let the mark haue a prick in't, to meate at, if it may be.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”
41
nounarchaic
High rank or standing.
42
noun
A quality that makes one kind of thing different from others.
43
noun
A strip tied to a rope used to measure how deep water is.
44
nounarchaic
The act of noticing something.
45
noun
Being important or well known.
46
nounobsolete
High opinion of someone.
47
nounslang
A wrestling fan who thinks the fights are real.
48
verbdated
To notice something.
Some of them [the Animals] coming forward near the place where I lay, gave me an opportunity of distinctly marking their Form.
1726, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. [Gulliver’s Travels]
49
verb
To keep watching someone.
50
verb
To write down that someone is, for example, absent.
51
verb
In Australian football, to catch a long kick and win a free kick.
52
verb
In golf, to put a small marker next to your ball before picking it up.
53
verb
To sing gently in practice so you do not tire your voice.
54
noun
An old weight of half a pound.
55
noun
An old weight used to measure precious metals.
As a reward for his poetry, Athelstan gave Egil two more gold rings weighing a mark each, along with an expensive cloak that the king himself had worn.
1997, “Egil's Saga”, in Bernard Scudder
56
noun
An old British amount of money worth two-thirds of a pound.
He had been made a royal counsellor, drawing a substantial annual salary of a hundred marks.
2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King
57
noun
Other old kinds of money worth a set weight of precious metal.
58
verb
A way of saying "march" in army commands.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of mark apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–24, 26–32

From Old English mearc, meaning a mark, sign, boundary, or edge. It goes back to older Germanic and Indo-European words for edge or border.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English mark descends from Old English mearc. en.wiktionary.org
Old English mearc meant a mark, sign or boundary; edge paraphrases its boundary sense. en.wiktionary.org
The word descends from older Germanic and Indo-European words meaning edge or border. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 25

From German Mark, going back through Middle and Old High German to the same Germanic root as the money sense (etymology 2).

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

This sense was borrowed from German Mark, whose ancestry runs through Middle and Old High German to the Germanic root shared with the money sense in etymology 2. en.wiktionary.org