tele·graph
ˈte-lə-ˌgraf 
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
: telegram
telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs
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
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
Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 3 July 2024
This produced auroral lights around the world and caused fires in multiple telegraph stations—at the time there were 125,000 miles of telegraph lines in the world.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 May 2024
Jeremy Barr, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
All of it seemed designed to telegraph a message: that the two leaders — shunned by much of the world — were not without friends.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for telegraph 
Noun
The plan, masterminded by Kentucky civilian scout James J. Andrews, was to cut off Chattanooga, Tenn., from the Confederacy by destroying the railroad tracks, bridges and telegraph lines that connected the city to Atlanta.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 3 July 2024
This produced auroral lights around the world and caused fires in multiple telegraph stations—at the time there were 125,000 miles of telegraph lines in the world.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 May 2024
Verb
Already, the Trump campaign has telegraphed a plan to attack the credibility of the two moderators, veteran anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
—Jeremy Barr, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
All of it seemed designed to telegraph a message: that the two leaders — shunned by much of the world — were not without friends.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for telegraph
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Telegraph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegraph. Accessed 14 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
telegraph
1 of 2 noun
tele·graph
ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires
telegraphic
adjective
ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik
telegraphically
adverb
-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē
telegraph
2 of 2 verb1
: to send by or as if by telegraph
telegraphed a message
2
: to send a telegram to
telegraphed home for money
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