Sign vs. Sigh — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 17, 2024
A sign is a symbol or gesture used to convey information or instructions, while a sigh is an audible exhale expressing relief, sadness, or tiredness.
Difference Between Sign and Sigh
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A sign can be visual, such as a stop sign, auditory like a beep to signal something, or a gesture, serving as a means of communication. It is designed to convey specific messages, instructions, or warnings to those who perceive it. On the other hand, a sigh is a type of nonverbal communication, often spontaneous and driven by emotions. It's a deep and often audible exhale that expresses a wide range of feelings, from relief to despair.
Signs are intentionally created and placed to inform, direct, or warn people, often part of a larger system of communication, such as traffic signs or language symbols. Conversely, sighs are natural responses to emotions and situations, not created with the intention of conveying a specific, universal message. They are subjective and can be interpreted differently based on context and cultural understanding.
The effectiveness of a sign depends on its clarity, recognizability, and relevance to its intended audience. It must be universally understood by those it aims to communicate with, requiring design consideration and sometimes standardization. A sigh, however, does not require understanding from others to serve its purpose; it is a personal expression of emotion or physical relief, its interpretation secondary to its expression.
While signs are crucial for navigating environments, establishing safety protocols, and facilitating communication in public and private spaces, sighs play a role in personal emotional regulation and nonverbal communication. They can indicate feelings to others but primarily serve the individual expressing them.
Signs can be studied, designed, and manipulated to achieve specific outcomes in behavior or understanding. In contrast, sighs are less controllable, often emerging spontaneously in response to feelings or physical states, such as fatigue or stress. Their involuntary nature contrasts with the deliberate creation and placement of signs.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A symbol or gesture conveying information or instructions.
An audible exhale expressing emotions.
Communication Type
Intentional and symbolic.
Spontaneous and emotional.
Purpose
To inform, direct, or warn.
To express relief, sadness, or tiredness.
Interpretation
Requires clarity and universality.
Subjective and context-dependent.
Role
Navigating environments, safety, communication.
Emotional regulation, nonverbal communication.
Control
Created and placed deliberately.
Emerges spontaneously.
Compare with Definitions
Sign
Indications or evidence of something.
Early blooming flowers are a sign of spring.
Sigh
An expression of longing, weariness, or sadness.
His words trailed off into a sigh.
Sign
A representation of a concept or entity in various forms.
Mathematical signs denote operations or relationships.
Sigh
A deep and audible breath typically expressing emotion.
She let out a sigh of relief after hearing the good news.
Sign
A gesture used to communicate specific messages.
He gave a sign to proceed with the plan.
Sigh
A release of breath indicating relaxation or relief.
After a long day, she sighed as she sank into the couch.
Sign
A symbol or object conveying information or instructions.
The stop sign at the corner alerts drivers to halt.
Sigh
A natural response to stress or emotional burden.
Faced with the pile of work, she could only sigh.
Sign
Any kind of signal, physical or auditory, used for communication.
Flashing lights as a sign of danger.
Sigh
A sound indicating resignation or surrender.
He sighed deeply, knowing the challenge ahead.
Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.
Sigh
Emit a long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar
Harry sank into a chair and sighed with relief
Sign
An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
The shops are full, which is a sign that the recession is past its worst
Flowers are often given as a sign of affection
Sigh
A long, deep audible exhalation expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar
The councils heaved a sigh of relief when they saved over £6m between them
She let out a long sigh of despair
Sign
A gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction
She gave him the thumbs-up sign
Sigh
To exhale audibly in a long deep breath, as in weariness or relief.
Sign
A notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form
I didn't see the ‘Stop’ sign
Sigh
To emit a similar sound
Willows sighing in the wind.
Sign
Each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic
A person born under the sign of Virgo
A sign of the Zodiac
Sigh
To feel longing or grief; yearn
Sighing for their lost youth.
Sign
The positiveness or negativeness of a quantity
The last four bits hold a pattern to represent the sign of the number
Sigh
To express with or as if with an audible exhalation.
Sign
Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender
The card was signed by the whole class
Sigh
(Archaic) To lament.
Sign
Use gestures to convey information or instructions
She signed to her husband to leave the room
Sigh
The act or sound of sighing.
Sign
Indicate with signposts or other markers
The footpath is signed by the gate
Sigh
(intransitive) To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like.
When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.
He sighed. It was going to be a long night.
He sighed over the lost opportunity.
Sign
Mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross
He signed himself with the cross
Sigh
(intransitive) To lament; to grieve.
Sign
Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality
A high temperature is a sign of fever.
Sigh
(transitive) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
Sign
An act or gesture used to convey an idea, a desire, information, or a command
Gave the go-ahead sign.
Sigh
(intransitive) To make a sound like sighing.
Sign
Sign language.
Sigh
(transitive) To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.
Sigh a note and sing a note
Sign
A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business
A motel with a flashing neon sign outside.
Sigh
(transitive) To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
"I guess I have no choice," she sighed.
She sighed her frustrations.
Sign
A posted notice bearing a designation, direction, or command
An EXIT sign above a door.
A traffic sign.
Sigh
A deep, prolonged audible inhale and exhale of breath; as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
Sign
A conventional figure or device that stands for a word, phrase, or operation; a symbol, as in mathematics or in musical notation.
Sigh
(figurative) a manifestation of grief; a lament.
Sign
Pl. sign An indicator, such as a dropping or footprint, of the trail of an animal
Looking for deer sign.
Sigh
(Cockney rhyming slang) A person who is bored.
Sign
A trace or vestige
No sign of life.
Sigh
An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.
Sigh, I'm so bored at work today.
Sign
A portentous incident or event; a presage
Took the eclipse as a sign from God.
Sigh
To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, or the like.
Sign
(Medicine) An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
Sigh
Hence, to lament; to grieve.
He sighed deeply in his spirit.
Sign
One of the 12 divisions of the zodiac, each named for a constellation and represented by a symbol.
Sigh
To make a sound like sighing.
And the coming wind did roar more loud,And the sails did sigh like sedge.
The winter winds are wearily sighing.
Sign
To affix one's signature to
Signed the letter.
Sigh
To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
Never man sighed truer breath.
Sign
To write (one's signature)
Signed her name to the contract.
Sigh
To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
Ages to come, and men unborn,Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.
Sign
To approve or ratify (a document) by affixing a signature, seal, or other mark
Sign a bill into law.
Sigh
To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
They . . . sighed forth proverbs.
The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief.
Sign
To hire or engage by obtaining a signature on a contract
Signed a rookie pitcher for next season.
Sign up actors for a tour.
Sigh
A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing.
I could drive the boat with my sighs.
Sign
To relinquish or transfer title to by signature
Signed away all her claims to the estate.
Sigh
Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan ent.
With their sighs the airFrequenting, sent from hearts contrite.
Sign
To provide with a sign or signs
Sign a new highway.
Sigh
An utterance made by exhaling audibly
Sign
To communicate with a sign or signs
Signed his approval with a nod.
Sigh
A sound like a person sighing;
She heard the sigh of the wind in the trees
Sign
To express (a word or thought, for example) in a sign language
Signed her reply to the question.
Sigh
Heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily;
She sighed sadly
Sign
To consecrate with the sign of the cross.
Sigh
Utter with a sigh
Sign
To make a sign or signs; signal.
Sign
To communicate in a sign language.
Sign
To write one's signature.
Sign
A perceptible (e.g. visible) indication.
Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
Sign
Physical evidence left by an animal.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Sign
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
Sign
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
Sign
(astrology) An astrological sign.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
Sign
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
Sign
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
Sign
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
Sign
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. sign (semiotics)]].
Sign
An omen.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
Sign
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
Sign
To make a mark
Sign
To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
Sign
(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
Sign
(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
Sign
(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
Sign
To write (one's name) as a signature.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
Sign
(intransitive) To write one's signature.
Please sign on the dotted line.
Sign
(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
Sign
(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
Sign
To make the sign of the cross
Sign
(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
Sign
(reflexive) To cross oneself.
Sign
To indicate
Sign
(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
Sign
(intransitive) To use sign language.
Sign
(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
Sign
To determine the sign of
Sign
(transitive) To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
Sign
That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Sign
Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.
Sign
Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.
The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.
Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory.
Sign
A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.
They made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Sign
Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
Sign
The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
Sign
A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.
Sign
Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.
An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Sign
To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.
I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
Sign
To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,And let him sign it.
Sign
To assign or convey formally; - used with away.
Sign
To mark; to make distinguishable.
Sign
To be a sign or omen.
Sign
To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
Sign
To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.
Sign
A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
He showed signs of strain
They welcomed the signs of spring
Sign
A public display of a (usually written) message;
He posted signs in all the shop windows
Sign
Any communication that encodes a message;
Signals from the boat suddenly stopped
Sign
Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;
The highway was lined with signboards
Sign
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Sign
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;
There were no signs of asphixiation
Sign
Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);
He got the polarity of the battery reversed
Charges of opposite sign
Sign
An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;
He hoped it was an augury
It was a sign from God
Sign
A gesture that is part of a sign language
Sign
A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;
The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary
Sign
A character indicating a relation between quantities;
Don't forget the minus sign
Sign
Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);
She signed the letter and sent it off
Please sign here
Sign
Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;
All parties ratified the peace treaty
Have you signed your contract yet?
Sign
Be engaged by a written agreement;
He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18
The soprano signed to sing the new opera
Sign
Engage by written agreement;
They signed two new pitchers for the next season
Sign
Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;
He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture
The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu
Sign
Place signs, as along a road;
Sign an intersection
This road has been signed
Sign
Communicate in sign language;
I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin
Sign
Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Sign
Used of the language of the deaf
Common Curiosities
What is a sigh?
A sigh is a deep and often audible exhale that expresses emotions such as relief, sadness, or tiredness.
How do signs and sighs differ in communication?
Signs are intentional and symbolic forms of communication, while sighs are spontaneous expressions of emotion.
Why are signs important?
Signs are crucial for providing directions, ensuring safety, and facilitating communication in various settings.
Can the purpose of a sigh be misunderstood?
Yes, since sighs are subjective and context-dependent, their intended expression can sometimes be misunderstood by others.
What emotions can a sigh express?
A sigh can express a range of emotions, including relief, sadness, frustration, and tiredness.
How is the interpretation of signs and sighs different?
The interpretation of signs relies on their clarity and universality, whereas the interpretation of sighs is more subjective and depends on context.
Are all signs visual?
Not all signs are visual; they can also be auditory or tactile, serving to convey information through different sensory channels.
Can a sigh be considered a sign?
While a sigh can serve as a nonverbal cue or signal, it is not a sign in the conventional sense of deliberately conveying specific information.
What is a sign?
A sign is a symbol, gesture, or any form of communication used to convey information, instructions, or warnings.
What makes a sign effective in public spaces?
An effective sign in public spaces is highly visible, easily understood by a diverse audience, and clearly communicates its intended message or instruction.
How do cultural differences affect the interpretation of sighs?
Cultural differences can significantly impact how sighs are interpreted, as the same sigh might convey different emotions or levels of intensity in different cultures.
Is it possible to control one’s sighs?
While it's possible to become more aware of and manage one’s sighs to some extent, they are often spontaneous and linked to subconscious emotional or physical states.
How do sighs contribute to nonverbal communication?
Sighs contribute to nonverbal communication by providing cues about an individual’s emotional state or reactions, enriching the context of interpersonal interactions.
What role does design play in the effectiveness of a sign?
Design is crucial in making a sign effective, as it must be easily recognizable, understandable, and relevant to its intended audience.
How do sighs benefit the individual expressing them?
Sighs can serve as emotional or physical relief for the individual, helping to regulate emotions and reduce stress.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
