telegraph

1 of 2

noun

tele·​graph ˈte-lə-ˌgraf How to pronounce telegraph (audio)
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

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 noun
telegraphist 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
Noun
Politicians use macho displays to assert dominance and not-so-subtly telegraph nostalgia for the old days. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 About 30 years ago, American Telephone and Telegraph ended its telegraph services. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024 First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024 Gisborne needed financing for a project that would extend North America’s existing telegraph system from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 The stated purpose of that expedition was to lay telegraph lines, but Kennan was actually motivated by the same thing that drove so many Victorian explorers: fragile masculinity. W. M. Akers, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2023 New York’s mayor ordered that all overhead telephone and telegraph wires be removed by utility companies and placed in underground conduits. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024 In 1858, the New York Times expressed concerns that the telegraph was leading to a decline in writing standards, as the necessity for brief and concise communication led to widespread abbreviation in writing. Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 For young foreigners contending with Spain’s repressive society and strict laws, the plaza served as a node in a bush telegraph—a place to exchange survival tips, warnings of risk, and rules of the road. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024
Verb
As President Biden delivers the night’s main message, every member of Congress hopes to telegraph one of their own with the one guest each gets to invite. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 In recent weeks, Haley’s campaign had telegraphed her campaign would make a final determination about whether to continue based on the primary results from Super Tuesday. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Inflation has eased, leading the Federal Reserve to telegraph its plans for interest rate cuts sometime this year, which many see as insurance should the job market stumble. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Some regional watchers have warned that this apparent restraint — including telegraphing the attacks well in advance — may mean the militias feel emboldened to continue their violence against American forces in the region. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024 That’s because the former president is telegraphing 60% taxes on all Chinese goods (10% tariffs on all other nations). William Pesek, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, Fox News’ call that Biden had won Arizona—which a Democrat hadn’t done since Clinton’s reelection campaign in 1996—telegraphed that Trump would lose the election. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024 By waiting so long to retaliate, issuing warning after warning, and telegraphing their intention to launch strikes far in advance, the United States and its partners emboldened the militia that dominates much of Yemen. Noam Raydan, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2024 The Biden administration telegraphed its response over the past week and deliberately avoided crossing the implicit red lines of the Iranian regime — no apparent Iranian personnel were hit, though Iraqi authorities pointed to more than a dozen deaths, including an unspecified number of civilians. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telegraph.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near telegraph

Cite this Entry

“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 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!