Skip to content

denotar

to denote, to indicate

verb deh-noh-TAHR Rare

Origin: From Latin denotare (to mark out, to signify).

Usage Note

Denotar means to indicate, signal, or be a sign of something — often used when a behavior or feature denotes a quality or state (eso denota confianza, that indicates confidence). In linguistics and semiotics it has the technical sense of denotation (literal meaning), contrasted with connotación. It is regularly conjugated (-ar) and tends to appear in formal or analytical writing.

Examples

"Su mirada denota tristeza."

Natural Translation

His gaze denotes sadness.

Explore Spanish by topic